James Kann Cruz lived up to his name with Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam on Sunday, Sept. 18, cruising to the top of a three-horse jump-off to win the $405,300 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5* at Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, Michigan.
Sweetnam became the second rider from outside North America to win the Gold Cup, while the victory was the first five-star grand prix win for the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Kannan—CSF Telly Cruz, Cruising) owned by Gizmo Partners, LLC.
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam piloted James Kann Cruz to the top of the 52nd American Gold Cup, held Sept. 18 in Williamsburg, Mich. Andrew Ryback Photography Photo
“It’s a great feeling to have,” Sweetnam said of riding the gelding. “It’s one of those horses you search your whole career to find, and when you find it you don’t believe it’s real. Every day he comes out and his form is even better. So I have to echo: what a horse.”
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Watch Sweetnam analyze the jump-off round—the only double-clear effort over Alan Wade’s course—that won them the 52nd edition of the Gold Cup:
