Change of plan in Conor Swail’s winning streak at WEF
Conor Swail changed his plans yesterday afternoon when he decided to enter Casturano in the WEF Challenge Cup, resulting in the third victory for the Irish rider in the seven days he has been competing this year at the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF].
“He was feeling great,” Conor said after finishing sixth on Wednesday in the FEI 5* 1.40m in the International Ring aboard the 11-year old Holsteiner gelding. Instead of waiting until Friday to compete again, the pair went up against some stiff competition in the WEF Challenge Cup this afternoon, lining up a field of 57 riders and the plan came to fruition when they led the jump off in a time of 36.25 seconds.
Germany’s Christian Kukuk and Mumbai, were among those chasing down the clock and the pair came closest taking runners up in a time of 36.35. Christian was one of a handful of top European riders competing at WEF for the first time this season.
Conor and Casturano have been together for a year and this week was their partnership debut at WEF. “He’s continued on a great curve,” Conor said of their journey. “He’s very very careful. He matured a lot last year and he was clear in the World Cup in London – probably the biggest thing he’s ever done.”
Conor, whose leading horse Count Me In, is entering his twilight years at 17, sees Casturano as an exciting upcoming star for his string – both horses are owned by Mannon Farm. “He has a confident way about him,” he said of Casturano. “He’s very pleasant to work with. He’s smart and he learns quickly. I’m really excited about where he’s going to lead me.”
Conor has spent the majority of the winter at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California where Casturano contributed to Conor’s significant string of victories – since added to at WEF.
“The plan was to come here and give him a little bigger test,” said Conor who, if all goes well, hopes to add Dublin and Aachen to their summer itinerary that begins with the Kentucky Invitational CSI4* Grand Prix in late April. “The horse is phenomenal. He needs another six or seven five stars and we’re going to have a lot of fun with him. He has so much quality.”
Today’s win was certainly pulled off in good company, not least that of world number one Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann with Glamour Girl as well as his fellow countryman and former global ranking leader, Peder Fredricson with Alcapone Des Carmille. Ireland’s Daniel Coyle – who went last in the jump off to finish fourth aboard Incredible – was also making his first appearance at WEF 2024 this week.
“In general you have all the top riders here,’ said Conor. “It’s nice to see a couple of the European boys over to get a taste of it and to see that it’s not as easy to win over here either and you’ve got to be up for it. I do like the fact that this week is cosmopolitan.”
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