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A win in the CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix at Traverse City, 2nd in CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Dinard, 3rd in the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, 3rd in the CSI5* 1.60m Trophée de Genève, 3rd in the CSIO5* 1.60m Longines Grand Prix of Dublin – Shane Sweetnam’s James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising) has built up an impressive resume since joining the Irish rider’s stable two years ago. 

Bred by Patrick and Shane Connolly, produced by Ireland’s John Mulligan and Francis Connors, and owned by Mary and Anne Gannon until he was sold to Sweetnam as an eight-year-old, WoSJ discovers that the now 10-year-old gelding was born impressive. “As a foal he was probably one of our biggest, he had a lovely model, a super canter, and showed plenty of blood,” Shane Connolly recalls as WoSJ tracks down James Kann Cruz’s journey to the top.

Based in Galway, in the west of Ireland, Connolly Stud Farm (CSF) breeds about 15-20 foals annually. “We bought James Kann Cruz’s grandmother Tell Of Clover and covered her with Cruising,” Shane Connolly begins. “We kept the foal, CSF Telly Cruz – James Kann Cruz’s dam. We had seen Kannan jumping at Dublin Horse Show and we had used him for a good bit on our mares, and thought he would match up with CSF Telly Cruz fairly well.”

“When he was five months old, we sold James Kann Cruz to Anne and Mary Gannon,” Connolly continues. “We were always excited about him. Once he started jumping as a four-year-old, we were very happy with the way he was performing. He looked very good as a young horse, and when he went to Shane it just went to a whole different level: With Shane, he went from being a good horse to being a superstar.”

It gives us great joy to know we can breed a horse of his calibre and talent

“This is what we all are dreaming of all along,” Connolly says. “When we started breeding 20 years ago, it was always our dream to breed a horse that would be able to compete and be successful at the highest level. James Kann Cruz and Shane are a good team together, they have really clicked and when they are asked to perform at the biggest shows, they always seem to end up in the prizes. It is a great achievement for us and gives us great joy to know we can breed a horse of his calibre and talent.” 

“We picked him on the account of his breeding,” Anne Gannon recalls about why she and her sister decided to buy James Kann Cruz. “His mother was an international showjumper by Cruising and I have a thing for Cruising-mares. When we bought James Kann Cruz, he was a nice, smart, lovely foal. We wanted to see how he would be and it was the first time for us to venture in this type of partnership. When it was time to be ridden, John Mulligan got him started and then he moved on to Francis Connors. I couldn’t praise Francis more highly when it comes to producing young horses; he is one of the best in the world, I think.”

Good horses take a long time to get to where they are

“We had good days and bad days with this horse, let me tell you,” Gannon continues. “Good horses take a long time to get to where they are. Francis knew what James Kann Cruz was, and so did we. We knew he was an exceptional horse, so we didn’t ask for a win on any particular day he went out, we were looking at the bigger picture instead. Francis jumped him his rounds, but every day was a schooling day, it was never about winning in the young horse classes. He did shine, because he was an exceptional horse already then, but he didn’t shine because he was winning – he wasn’t. Francis treated shows as a school and brought him along at his own pace, as he wanted him for the long-haul. I do think that if you have a good horse and you want it for the long-haul, you need to have it in the right hands – and to me, there are no better hands than those of Francis. It was a long road for us, but we kept faith in him and that is why we are where we are; partly because we had trust in our horse, but also because we had trust in Francis.” 

James Kann Cruz is a big, powerful horse, and his presence never went unnoticed. When he walked to the ring, people stopped to watch, and there was plenty of interest in him ever since he started to show as a youngster; he never failed to impress. “He was light off the ground, he stood out and we were offered big money for him,” Gannon tells. “However, Francis told us that there is more to this horse, that he is a long-term project and we were going to wait for that. I think many people would have let him go, as big money can be tempting and he is a gelding, so we had that gamble.”

However, taking a risk certainly paid out for the Gannons, and seeing James Kann Cruz now go from strength to strength with Sweetnam brings them great joy. “It is wonderful to follow him now,” Gannon says. “It is great for Ireland to see Cruising coming out again, and I have been a fan all these years. I think it is a really good cross with the continental breeding, to have the Irish bloodlines in the back. Cruising gives that extra spark that you need to be a winner, and James Kann Cruz certainly had it, has it and will have it. He is nearly human in the way he goes; he knows what he is doing and he has that winner instinct, and that is what you need more than anything. Shane is a fantastic jockey, and when he bought the horse from us, he went back to Francis to ask for advice, so they linked well and the transition was smooth.” 

He is nearly human in the way he goes; he knows what he is doing and he has that winner instinct

“James Kann Cruz has always been very careful, with great respect for the fences and love for jumping,” Gannon says. “He loves showing and is a natural in that environment, which is important; that a horse likes what he does. He always had a good attitude, but it took a lot of work and time to get to where he is now; it was one step forward and two steps back. However, I think that anything that is worthwhile is never easy to get and now he has done the talking, he has proved how good he really is.” 

“It was a hard and expensive road, it was all gamble, but it worked out,” Anne’s sister Mary Gannon fills in. “There were hard days, but we always believed in him, so we kept going. He was produced very slowly, with no pressure at all, and Francis was excellent in his job. We knew he was a special horse, and at the end there was nothing left for him in Ireland so we decided it was the right thing to do to sell him to Shane. However, we could have sold him a hundred times over, for all those years, but we didn’t.” 

Francis Connors got the ride on James Kann Cruz at the end of the gelding’s fifth year and had him until he was sold to Shane as an eight-year-old. “I loved him from the start,” Connors says quietly. “I don’t think anyone can tell how a horse will turn out, but he was one that from the start I did think would be a star. He is a great character, brilliant to have in the stable. He thinks he is the boss and that’s why it was difficult to get through to him in the beginning; he likes to do things his way.”

I don’t think anyone can tell how a horse will turn out, but he was one that from the start I did think would be a star

“He was a challenge in the beginning, because he was really exuberant with everything,” Connors continues. “He is a very big horse and teaching him to cope with distances that were shorter, as well as combinations, was tricky, as he covered so much ground so easily. He was always trying to get to the fences, he loved jumping so much. We took our time; it was important that he learned to do everything well.”

“When he was seven, we went to Spain but then Covid hit. I think that was a shame because it would have been great education for him,” Connors tells. “However, due to that quiet period, we had a lot of time with him at home and when everything opened up again, he was ready to go. It is great fun to follow him with Shane now and think I had such a big part in his education and in getting him to that level. I enjoy watching his improvement and success. He is a championship horse and I am sure Shane will produce him towards the major championships in the next few years. Whenever you sell a horse, you hope they end up with someone who will bring them to where they can be, that they don’t get wasted along the way, and that things are done properly.”

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam – current world number seven – discovered James Kann Cruz on Facebook. “Francis Connors is an Irish legend,” Sweetnam says. “He was jumping James Kann Cruz in national classes in Ireland and after seeing videos of them on social media, I talked to Ronan Clarke, a friend of mine who does most of the deals when I buy horses. Ronan then started asking about the horse and in September 2021, I went to Ireland, tried him and bought him.”

His power caught my eye in the first place

“His power caught my eye in the first place; he is a big horse, but he is able to jump the fences really easy and when I tried him, I could feel that power,” Sweetnam tells. “He had done a lot of national shows with Francis and had done really well, but he was very sharp with a lot of energy and blood, so when I first got him, I didn’t want to take him straight to a show. I worked him on the flat and did not jump much in the beginning, it was more about me getting to know him and him getting to know me. Our first show wasn’t until the last week of November 2021, when we went back to Wellington and started doing some 1.30m classes. I wanted to develop our relationship first. Once WEF started in January 2022, we started doing 1.45m classes and our first big class was a national Grand Prix that went under the lights in week three. Already then, he was second – and from then on, we didn’t really look back. It was slow at the start, but once we got to know each other, it went really quick. The issue was that I needed to feel we had the right connection, and when I was comfortable with his rideability, I felt like we could do anything. It was never about if he had the ability or not.” 

I think what sets him apart is how much he loves jumping

“He has a lot of character, he is very smart, but he also has his own opinions,” Sweetnam continues. “You have to work with him on everything, he cannot be forced into anything. When you are doing something new with him, you have to take your time and not rush it. He is always going to understand, you just have to find the right approach. He is very smart and will pick up when you do it the right way, and it holds. He is sweet in the stall, but he likes his space as well. He is an interesting character, and loves his job. Obviously, he has unbelievable ability, but I don’t think that is what makes him stand out from the rest, I think what sets him apart is how much he loves jumping. If he hasn’t jumped in a while, he is real handful because he gets so excited about it. He knows what he is meant to be doing; he wants to jump clear and that gives him an extra edge.”

“Winning the Aga Khan last year in Dublin was really special, it was the first time I had done it, and to do it with an Irish horse, in Ireland, was very special,” Sweetnam says about one of many great successes the two have already enjoyed together. “Geneva was a big target as well and the first big Rolex show for him. I had not jumped him a lot indoors, but big jumps in a big ring suit him. This year, in most classes he has been right there in the shakeup for the win; we have been lucky that everything has gone according to plan. I am very grateful to have great owners in the Gizmo Partners, which makes it possible for me to have him.”

Sweetnam has big plans for his 10-year-old gelding that has been produced with great consideration. “He was nine last year, and I was always protecting him,” Sweetnam explains. “Now he has more mileage and he is showing how consistent he is, so it is about picking the right shows for him now. After CHIO Aachen, we will be building towards the European Championships, hoping that we will be selected and can do our first championship together in Milan – and be successful.”

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