Tokyo eventing set for action

It’s the turn of the world’s best eventing horses and riders to shine under the Tokyo Olympic Games spotlight over the next few days. All but one of the horses presented at today’s first horse inspection at Baji Koen Equestrian Park were confirmed for action by the Ground Jury.

All four New Zealand horses sailed through the trot-up and the Kiwi starting trio of Tim Price, Jonelle Price and Jesse Campbell agree that the cross-country course, designed by Derek di Grazia, will be a true test despite being reduced from the usual 10 minute to around eight minutes in length. 

Jonelle and Grovine de Reve

Tim says: “It will call for both thinking and very reactive riding. Time is going to be really tight but it will make some amazing viewing. It suits a good cross country nation like the Kiwis – we are looking forward to getting out there and getting stuck in.”

Tim and Vitali

Olympic debutante Jesse says he can’t wait to get started. “I think there will be problems evenly scattered and not one sort of combination pops out as being incredibly tough but they all need respecting. It will be about keeping your head on and doing a good job.”

Jesse and Diachello
Tim runs up Tresca NZPH, who is the horse of our alternate rider, Bundy Philpott

Olympic chef d’equipe Graeme Thom welcomes the reduced time and says it will still be an “amazing test”.

“The time is going to be very difficult to make and the course is a lot of back and forth,” he says. “There are a number of short, taxing sprints up hills that will be influential.”

There are four waters which will also have a big part to play in the test. “Given that this is a four-star, even though there are a lot of five-star horses here, no one will be taking that course for granted. Derek (di Grazia) has a way of catching you out and everyone is prepared for that. 

For a preview of the course, see our story at this link: https://horseandponymag.com/2021/07/29/what-a-cross-country-course/

After today’s first horse inspection, the Polish reserve combination of Jan Kaminski and Jard have been added to the start list, because Pawel Spisak’s gelding, Banderas, was spun. 

Meanwhile, Canada’s Jessica Phoenix did not present her gelding Pavarotti, so the number of starters in the opening dressage phase has been reduced from 65 to 63. 

First for their country

First into the arena tomorrow morning at 08.30 local time will be Thailand’s Arinadtha Chavatanont with Boleybawn Prince. It’s a history-making moment because both Thailand and China are fielding an Olympic eventing team for the very first time.

Also making his mark is the first-ever event rider to represent Hong Kong, Thomas Heffernan Ho, who will partner the stallion Tayberry.

The very dapper Thomas Herrernan Ho and Tayberry

There will be two sessions of dressage tomorrow and another on Saturday morning before the horses are transported for a sleepover at Sea Forest in Tokyo Bay where the cross-country phase will take place early on Sunday morning. They return to Baji Koen that afternoon and on Monday the final jumping phases will decide the team and individual medals.

Jonelle and Grovine de Reve are our first combination out tomorrow, at 12.52pm (NZ time). Jesse and Diachello ride at 10.20pm Friday night (NZ time), and Tim anchors the team at 1.38pm (NZ time) on Saturday.

New test

A brand new Olympic dressage test, taking just under four minutes to complete, will be performed for the very first time, and second to go tomorrow morning will be world number one Oliver Townend with Ballaghmor Class. The British rider will be aiming to put as much pressure as possible on reigning individual double-champion Michael Jung from Germany who will be second-last to go on Saturday morning with Chipmunk.

There’s a 40-year gap between the oldest athlete in the field, 62-year-old Andrew Hoy from Australia, and the youngest, 22-year-old Lea Siegl from Austria.

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