The Rolex Kentucky CCI4* is under way with the first trot-up completed in lovely warm spring weather. Many of the women riders opted for summery dresses, some with hats or fascinators, but we were pleased to see that there were very few running in high heels this year! Will Faudree was even game enough to wear a very bright white suit. Not quite what we expect to see soon at the Taupo three-day event.
We have two Kiwi blokes riding. Joe Meyer (Clip Clop) was third to go – as he is for the dressage and cross-country. Tim Price (Ringwood Sky Boy) drew 59th in the running order.
Joe Meyer looked good in his light-coloured spring linen outfit, but Clip Clop outshone him, looking fantastic! He was obviously at peak fitness, and looked like he was keen to trot straight and tackle the cross-country course.
Nice jog prize from the best @DevoucouxUSA @RolexKentucky pic.twitter.com/hYy8EsS9yl
— Joe Meyer (@JoeMeyerEvntr) April 26, 2017
Tim wasn’t one for a flashy outfit, choosing a modern suit, but he was very flash in the way he jumped the flowers in the pot when Ringwood Sky Boy (who also looked great) pushed him off course. They got the nod from the Ground Jury and will ride their dressage on Friday afternoon (Kentucky time).
The Ground Jury is Christina Klingspor (Sweden), Nick Burton (GB) and David Lee (Ireland).
Colleen Rutledge unfortunately withdrew Covert Rights from the hold box and Jordan Linstedt’s RevitaVet Capato was sent to the hold but came back, and, after a long deliberation, the ground jury accepted them into the competition.
So who are you picking? Of course we all want either Joe or Tim to win, but they do have some stiff competition.
Zara Tindall and High Kingdom will be hoping that the predicted rain does arrive, as they have a great track record in wet conditions – High Kingdom being Irish-bred loves the rain.
Frenchman Maxime Livio and Qalao Des Mers are one combination we think could be taking the winner’s prize, and of course we can’t go past Michael Jung, who’s going for his third Kentucky victory in a row on FisherRocana FST. If he wins this, he will match Avebury and Andrew Nicholson’s three wins at a four-star event (Burghley)
Of course if an American wins the competition, it will be an incredibly popular victory as the last local victor was Phillip Dutton in 2008 on Connaught. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen are a combination who do have a very good chance. First-timers Catherine Martin and Spring Easy have also been impressing many with their form, and it would be a fairy tale if they could pull it off.
Good luck everyone, especially Joe and Tim!
Central Districts Horse Trials, Foxton
The last short-format event of the autumn season, Central Districts Horse Trials, takes place on the McKelvie family property, Pukemarama Farm, near Foxton this weekend. It is also the last chance for both the Senior and Young Rider training squads to impress the selectors before the Oceania teams are named, prior to the NRM Taupo Three-day Event, May 12-14.
The Norwood Farm Machinery CIC3* class has attracted 17 entrants, including six of the eight long-listed senior riders.
Jock Paget, now based near Taupo, will have his second start back in New Zealand on Angus Blue; these two won their first 2* start a fortnight ago in Hastings. They will have strong competition from Samantha Felton, the National Eventing Champion, who has two horses named in the squad, Ricker Ridge Escada and Ricker Ridge Pico Boo. Sam is also competing in the three-star class on Ricker Ridge Rui and Ricker Ridge Divine Right, plus has two in the two-star class, so will be a busy woman!
The very experienced Donna Edwards-Smith also has two in the squad: the 2016 National Eventing Champion and crowd favourite DSE Mr Hokey Pokey, and DSE Tangolooma, who is full of running after time out with injury. Cantabrian Emily Cammock has Shaw Lee up from the South Island, fresh from a win in the CIC3* at McLeans Island two weeks ago. Also on a northern campaign is Kirsty Sharapoff with the impressive Shoot the Breeze and she too will be competing in the three-star. Jessica Woods has stepped Just de Manzana up to three-star this weekend; this new combination looks like an exciting prospect. Stepping back up to three-star are Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding. Sadly for Sarah Dalziell-Clout, Benrose Super Star has been withdrawn due to injury.
Most of the Young Rider squad are entered in the CIC2* class, although Renee Faulkner, who was named in the squad, is contesting the three-star on Rubinstar HH.
Jock Paget also has two horses entered in the two-star class and we are looking forward to seeing how he goes with Man of Honour, usually ridden by Ginny Thompson, and SE Hedging, usually ridden by Brent Jury. Both horses are classy individuals and Jock hasn’t competed on them before, but of course he has a bit of class as a rider too.
