Swail Seizes Opportunity With World Cup Victory in Toronto

Conor Swail (IRL) and Casturano - winners of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ NAL 2025/26 - Toronto (CAN) ©FEI/Mackenzie Clark

When Conor Swail (IRL) entered the arena as the last to jump in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto (CAN), he felt a victory within his grasp. The most senior athlete in a compact three-horse jump-off, Swail was aboard his experienced partner Casturano, who had finished among the top 10 in three previous World Cup events and was ever-so-close to putting it all together. He had a target to catch, and on this occasion the stars aligned.

In thrilling fashion, Swail swept to the top Saturday night at Toronto's historic Royal Horse Show, crossing the timers of Olaf Petersen Jr.'s (GER) short course in 41.24 seconds. A pair of 21-year-old rising stars finished behind him: Skylar Wireman (USA) earned second with Barclino B (42.08 seconds), while Mimi Gochman (USA) settled for third after going off course with Inclen BH.

"There was an opportunity there for me to go and win, and I do try to take opportunities when I see them. I really gave it my best shot, and thankfully today it really worked out.”

Conor Swail(IRL) 

While Swail is among the winningest riders in North American League history, having led the league in points during the 2021-22 season and finishing second the following year in 2022-23, Saturday night's victory marked Swail's first in an NAL event since the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Las Vegas (USA) with Count Me In. Count Me In, with whom Swail finished eighth individually at the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals in Leipzig (GER), retired from an illustrious career in October—putting Casturano firmly at the top of Swail's string.

"I've produced this horse," Swail said. "As much as it's a great win for me, he really deserves it more than me."

Petersen, Jr. posed a stiff test with his technical and highly related indoor track. After Gochman and Wireman produced early clears within the first three rides of the night, other athletes were met with difficulty, particularly late in the course, with the final line featuring a most-delicate plank positioned close to the ingate, followed by a wide oxer and a steadying final four strides to the last vertical. Swail did not add his clear effort to the tally until the final four rides of the first round.  

In the jump-off, Gochman led the way, but she became flustered when she had to change her plan during her ride, leading her to ultimately go off course. That only made the task at hand marginally easier for Wireman, who was aware of the skill and horsepower behind her.

"I know my horse is fast, but I also knew that Conor was behind me," Wireman said. "My goal was just to give him a really solid round and hope that I would be fast enough. Conor beat me, but I'm just so proud of [Barclino B]. He has come so far in the year that I've had him, and he's still only 9 [years old]."

Swail took aim at Wireman's standard and set himself apart by leaving out strides in two places. At one point, Swail and Casturano left a bold amount of space between themselves and a large oxer, but horse and rider had faith in one another to keep the fence up. From there, their momentum carried forward.

"When he jumped [Fence 1], he was a little slow on the turn. I saw a really big distance, and he didn't really go for it in the beginning. [The jump] was getting further and further away," Swail said. He was very good to pick up there, but it actually got him going...The rest of the round he was really on the bridle and taking me to the jumps."

Swail has his sights set firmly on a return to the World Cup Finals, set for Fort Worth (USA) in April 2026, and he now leads the NAL standings with 38 points. He is followed by his Irish teammate Daniel Coyle, who has 27 points, while Daniel Bluman (ISR), who finished sixth in Toronto, sits third in the standings with 22 points.

"This year, I feel that Casturano is ready to do it," Swail said. "He's jumped at the five-star level for two years now, so I think that he can give it a good run. He's an incredible athlete, and he jumps an awful lot of clear rounds, which is what you need to do at the Finals."

The North American League resumes in Los Angeles (USA) on Saturday, 22 November 2025.

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