Oliver Townend holds second on the conclusion of the Mars Maryland 5 Star dressage, with fellow Brit Bubby Upton simply behind him in third after her take a look at on Cola. Tamie Smith holds the lead on Mai Baum for the USA.
Oliver and Ballaghmor Class – the 17-year-old three-time five-star winner owned by Karyn Shuter, Val Ryan and Angela Hislop – put in a completely skilled take a look at immediately, hitting the excessive marks all through.
The highlights of the Maryland 5 Star dressage take a look at for Oliver Townend included the prolonged canter and ultimate centreline, with each actions incomes eights throughout the board from judges Christina Klingspor (Sweden), Valerie Delight (USA) and Xavier Le Sauce (France).
He was awarded one outlier mark of 4, from Xavier at B, for his rein-back the place Ballaghmor Class appeared to kind of crouch on the finish of the motion and maybe kicked the white board. The opposite two judges gave a seven for this motion.
Oliver has completed on the rostrum on all three events that this occasion has run – he was second in 2021 on Cooley Grasp Class, then third on As Is in 2022 and third on Cooley Rosalent final yr. He returns after a difficult season for Ballaghmor Class, who missed out on Badminton and the Olympics after a deep-rooted hoof abscess within the spring.
“It’s a particular venue and for Cecil County and Maryland to placed on a five-star is one thing at all times be pleased about,” stated Oliver. “Anybody that places on such a typical of occasion with such nice prize cash deserves to see Ballaghmor Class right here.”
The rider choked up when requested to pay tribute to his tremendous accomplice, who have to be nearing the top of his profession at 17 years outdated, though his rider doesn’t suppose retirement is imminent.
“He’s naturally a match horse and he enjoys his job immensely – typically it’s retaining the joy working for you slightly than towards you,” he stated. “He’s an extremely robust, extremely sound horse and has been all through his complete profession.
“Together with his enthusiasm for his job, I don’t know what we’re going to do with him when his job as an occasion horse is completed as a result of I can’t see him doing too many different jobs. So we’ll maintain him going so long as he’s in a position as a result of he isn’t going to be a contented hacker for someone to go around the roads and I can’t see him in looking subject or doing something underneath this stage.
“He just about retains himself going the best way he’s, he’s naturally a top-class occasion horse and we’ve been vastly privileged to have him as a part of our group for therefore lengthy.”
Et Hop Du Matz makes five-star debut
Additionally for Britain, Harry Meade is now ninth on Away Cruising, who did his take a look at yesterday, and twelfth on his second trip, five-star debutant Et Hop Du Matz, owned by Mandy Grey.
“He’s a younger horse and I’ve at all times stated he’s a bit behind and to offer him loads of time as he’s a really tall, weak, gangly spider of a horse, however having gone that softly softly method, really he’s been very uncomplicated and he’s at his first five-star at 10 so he’s not behind, however he nonetheless has plenty of enchancment to return,” stated Harry.
“The flying adjustments are a piece in progress and we had errors in two that are expensive. However total I’m thrilled – he went like he was working at residence not in the primary area on Friday afternoon at a five-star and the primary factor was he took a constructive expertise away from right here. He’s doing all the correct work, I’m nonetheless happy together with his mark and there will probably be extra to return so I hope he’ll be a extremely good horse.”
David Doel, who carried out his take a look at yesterday on Galileo Nieuwmoed, holds sixteenth going into tomorrow’s cross-country.
You may additionally be excited by:
Credit score: Amy Dragoo
Credit score: Amy Dragoo
Credit score: Amy Dragoo
Credit score: Amy Dragoo
Credit score: Future
