The Mitsubishi Motors Adelaide Three-day Event has kicked off in South Australia, with the biggest Kiwi contingent in many years, making up a third of the four-star field. Among them are current NZ National Three-day Champions Muzi Pottinger with Just Kidding and current Puhinui title holders Bundy Philpott with Tresca NZPH.
The ultra-experienced Donna Edwards-Smith has two rides – DSE Tangolooma returns for a third tilt at Adelaide, while DSE Cluny is stepping up to his first four-star, on the back of a win at the recent South Island Three-day Event.
Emily Cammock is returning to four-star after a long break; she last competed at Adelaide in 2005. She’s riding Shaw Lee, who won the National 3DE title at Taupo in 2017.
Jessica Woods and her mare Just de Manzana, and Renee Faulkner and Rubinstar HH are both making their four-star debut. Renee has the honour – or pressure – of being drawn first to go in front of the Ground Jury for the four-star dressage tomorrow, and of course will be the trail-blazer for cross-country day on Saturday. Emily rides at number seven, followed by Muzi and then Jess. Donna and Cluny are 11th to go, followed by Bundy and Tresca at 12. Finally, Donna and ‘Bones’ are the second-last combination in the draw.
The other New Zealander in the four-star field is Australia-based Hayley Frelick who has two rides, Class Action LP and My Happiness, in her first start at the top level.
Meanwhile Cantabrian and current National Young Rider champ Lucy Turner is riding Carbon in the CCI2*, which has 50 entrants.
All the New Zealand horses passed the trot-up, which was held yesterday, with the Kiwi riders dressed to impress. There is a large New Zealand contingent of supporters too, and New Zealand’s Anne Tylee is on the Ground Jury, along with Marilyn Payne (USA) who was president at the Rio Olympic Games and 2010 World Equestrian Games, and Christian Landolt (SWITZ).
The CCI2* dressage is today – go Lucy and Carbon!
