Hippomundo offers each month a portrait of a broodmare who has stood out thanks to her offspring. This month, we head to Ireland to follow the story of CSF Telly Cruz, a pure Irish mare.
CSF Telly Cruz, a little-known dam line
CSF Telly Cruz is an Irish mare kept by Patrick Connolly near Galway, Ireland. She is by Cruising out of Tell of Clover (by Clover Hill). Her Irish dam, of an unknown female family, competed in junior classes under Swiss rider Daniel Bürki, winning the team gold at the European Championships in Athens in 1994 and team bronze at the Young Riders European Championships in Predazzo (ITA) in 1996. After her international career she returned home and became a broodmare.
CSF Telly Cruz was born in 2005 and was immediately devoted to a career as a producer of sport horses.
A very successful production
CSF Telly Cruz has produced 9 known horses (recorded by Hippomundo), four of which are black-type:
- 2009: MTM Vinze (ex-CSF Vinze) by Luidam - HR 22 - He competes at 1.40m with Katherine Le Blanc (USA) and also contests 1.45m. Together the pair notably won the Gulfport National GP in Mississippi in March 2025.
MTM Vinze & Katherine Le Blanc during their victory in March 2025 - (c) Press Release/Eve was here
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2012: CSF Kancruz, by Kannan - HR 22 - The gelding competes at 1.45m with young British rider Isobel Stenning.
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2013: James Kann Cruz (ex-CSF James Kann Cruz), by Kannan (featured photo) - HR 117 (HLR 135). Well known under Shane Sweetnam, the gelding has performed at the highest level since 2021. A full member of the Irish team, the pair notably competed at the recent World Championships in Aachen (15th individually and the top Irish performance), at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and at the 2023 European Championships in Milan (team silver). This year, the pair won the GP at the CSI5* in Falsterbo (SWE) and placed 3rd in the CSI5* GPs in Wellington (USA) in February and Lexington (USA) in April.
Shane Sweetnam & CSF James Kann Cruz at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - (c) FEI/Benjamin Clark
- 2016: CSF Jackpot, (by VDL Glasgow vh Merelsnest) - HLR 33: He has performed up to 1.50m under rider Alexis Bodo. The pair had notable results in 2025, including 7th in the 1.50m national GP in Wayne (USA) and 5th in the 1.45m national GP in Wellington (USA). This year, CSF Jackpot continues to compete with amateur rider Danielle Grice (USA).
While these four horses have already proven themselves, the foal born in 2026 to CSF Telly Cruz is none other than the full brother of CSF James Kann Cruz… Many more wonderful stories await us in the years to come!
