Shane Sweetnam records five-star success in US

Ireland's Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz captured the American Gold Cup five-star Grand Prix at Traverse City in Michigan on Sunday.

Sweetnam scored what was his second top-level Grand Prix win with the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding as the sole double-clear effort over Alan Wade’s course, coming out on top after a three-horse jump-off and becoming only the second non-North American to win the prestigious title.

Behind Sweetnam, still chasing his first American Gold Cup win, was McLain Ward and Callas, who finished with one fence down against the clock.

Lacey Gilbertson took third place as the only other clear effort over the first-round track aboard Karlin van’t Vennehof.

Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz had also proved unbeatable in the Grand Prix qualifier at the same venue earlier this week, coming on the back of a huge win in the Aga Khan at the Dublin Horse Show last month, where they helped Ireland to victory.

"I always thought there was something special about him but you never know until you start working with a horse and start building the relationship," Sweetnam said of his mount.

"As soon as we turned up in January, everything went the right way and everyone was talking about him. It’s a different kind of pressure to win, and instead of managing every little detail I just have to let him do what he can do. He’s a great horse and he showed that."