VIDEO: Shawn Casady wins $235,000 CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix at tbird

The stars aligned for the USA’s Shawn Casady Friday afternoon, June 2 at Thunderbird Show Park, as the 28-year-old recorded the biggest victory of his career with NKH Cento Blue in the $235,000 CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix.

It took nearly a third of the class for a clean round to materialize, and it was Langley’s own Samantha Buirs-Darvill to lay it down with Chic D Emma Z. Once she did, World No. 10 Shane Sweetnam from Ireland followed suit with Out of the Blue SCF. But a trend it was not.

While fences fell in relatively equal measure, the last fence, the Longines vertical (‘unlucky’ 13) fell seven times. Just two more clears joined the jump-off: Canada’s Kara Chad with Igor GPH and the last pair in the ring, Casady and Cento Blue.

First to return over the short course, Buirs-Darvill had an unfortunate refusal, costing her a chance at victory. Sweetnam laid down a clean round to put the pressure on, stopping the timer in 43.05 seconds. After elimination befell Chad and Igor, it was all down to Casady.

Winning Round: Shawn Casady & NKH Cento Blue from Chris Pack on Vimeo.

According to Jumpr App, Casady and KNH Cento Blue have performed with 4 faults or less 80 per of the time in 2023, so it was only a matter of time before they had their turn in the winner’s circle. Today was the day, as they posted a clean round in 42.46 seconds.

READ ALSO: Local riders excited to be returning to Thunderbird Show Park

“I didn’t see Shane’s whole jump off,” Casady explained. “[I was] just wanting to be double clear and consistent. For a big horse, he covers so much ground. I think that’s kind of where we were. We snuck in.

“I could have been fourth at the worst and it would have been a good day.”

Casady, who grew up catch-riding ponies, didn’t acquire the ride on Cento Blue until his owner, Erin Davis-Heineking had an unfortunate injury, requiring shoulder surgery. She asked Casady to take on the ride and sent her horse to California, where the new partnership immediately started to win.

For the past two weeks in Langley, Casady has been living and working out of his RV, grooming on his own and enjoying having the time to really get to know Cento Blue.

“He’s very food driven. He loves attention. And if you’re anywhere in the barn, he has his head out of his stall,” Casady described. “Every time you go near where there might be a snack, he looks over and wonders if you’re going to grab something for him. But he’s polite about it. He knows not to be rude.”

Sweetnam was second and Buirs-Darvill was third.

READ ALSO: Tbird ‘honoured’ to host FEI Nations Cup for sixth year in a row

Sunday’s big $400,000 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup at tbird is from 2 to 4 p.m. with gates opening at 1 p.m.

General admission for the Nations Cup is $10 per person, while children five and younger are admitted free.

Spectator tickets for any of these events can be bought online at tbird.ca.

The public is asked to enter the gates at 6975 248th St.