Cian O’Connor and the nine-year-old gelding Callisto came out on top in the Suncor Energy Winning Round at the five-star Spruce Meadows Masters in Canada.
The event is a warm-up for the $2 Million CP International Grand Prix, where O'Connor will be in action, riding Good Luck, along with fellow Irish rider Greg Broderick riding The Irish Sport Horse MHS Going Global.
O’Connor and Callisto, who is owned by Ian O’Grady, Philippe de Balander, and Ronnoco Jump Ltd, were one of 10 combinations who qualified for the Suncor Energy second round.
They were first to jump in round two and cleared the course in the winning time of 47.87 seconds. Switzerland’s Guerdat slotted into second with Albfuehren’s Happiness, while home favourite Eric Lamaze and Chacco Kid came home in third.
Commenting on his victory, which is O’Connor’s first at Spruce Meadows, he said, "It is always nice to get a win. It is a good competition because you get a chance to clean the slate if you make the top ten. I had a time fault, just over the time allowed in the first round, but he jumped well. Then I was first to go in the jump-off.
"I had walked the course quite well and I just tried to play to his strengths because he has such a big stride," O’Connor continued. “He actually is not that nippy or quick, so I have to really leave out strides. In this arena, a horse that has a huge length of stride and stays careful has a big advantage, so it was great."
O'Connor now turns his attentions to the CP International Grand Prix and insists that he feels "quietly confident" heading into the competition.
"Good Luck is the best horse I have ever had, so I am confident that we have a very good chance,” O’Connor said.
"He has extraordinary scope. He can jump the biggest fences, he is so careful, he is quite fast against the clock, and he is just one of the better horses in the world I think. He jumped twice this week, double clear the first day and one down the second day. He has had two days off now, so he should be ready to go."
