Lucinda Fredericks and Bettina Hoy swapped places after an enthralling day’s cross-country at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™. Fredericks now has one jumping rail in hand over Hoy to win.
Fredericks (AUS), 42, encouraged by a large and cheering crowd who shouted “Go Brit!”, was ecstatic at finishing bang on the optimum time of 11min 2sec on a supremely fit Headley Britannia, the first time she has done so at a 4-star event. “There’s life in the old girl yet,” she joked.
Hoy (GER) showed all her experience in steering the veteran Ringwood Cockatoo home with 9.6 time penalties in an exhibition of accurate jumping and courageous riding. “The heat may have got to him and I didn’t want to push him. I only went as fast as felt right. He owes me nothing,” she said emotionally.
Third and fourth places remain the same for the younger generation, Buck Davidson (USA) on My Boy Bobby and Tim Lips (NED), who both finished with a clean sheet.
Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) finished fifth, also in the time, while Lucy Wiegersma is still best of the British, her minimal time penalties putting her sixth. Oliver Townend (GBR) is close behind in seventh on Carousel, ahead of William Fox-Pitt (GBR), eighth with a masterful display of coaxing the inexperienced Seacookie, and Phillip Dutton (USA), up one place to nineth on Connaught.
The price of one fence covers 4th to 8th places – there is little room for error in the jumping phase for any of the top-placed riders.
Competition statistics
– The cross-country course was 6280m with an optimum time of 11min 2sec
– 46 horses started and 38 finished
– There were 28 clear rounds, with 10 inside the time
– 9 horses had 20 penalties; one had 40
– 2 rider falls, for Sandra Donnelly (USA) at the Sunken Road and Stanislaus de Zuchowicz (FRA) in the water at 11
– 2 horse falls, for Mike Winter’s (CAN) Kingpin at fence 10, and for Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe’s The Good Witch at fence 22
– 4 horses were eliminated for three refusals
– 3 horses were withdrawn before cross-country
Dutton shows the way
Phillip Dutton, second to go, posted the first clear, a typically cool and confidence-giving round on the impressive Woodburn, up five places to 12th.
Buck Davidson, first out, had a stop in the Sunken Road. He had been chased by a dog about which he later spoke to officials, because he said he had to change his line. Two horses later, his father, Bruce, had a run out at the second corner at 22 on Jam. William Fox-Pitt rode sympathetically on the inexperienced Navigator, who lost a shoe, just clocking 20 penalties with a run-out at the narrow brush arrowhead at the Normandy Bank at fence 25.
Jose Ortelli (ARG) had the thrill of a lifetime at his first 4-star, clear on Jos Aladar, and is now 31st. Stephen Bradley (USA), 12th on Brandenburg’s Joshua, and Oliver Townend, immaculate on his new ride Carousel Quest, were two of the class acts of the morning session.
Huge interest centred on Tim Lips, who is expected to revive Dutch fortunes on the international stage. He had a scary moment at the HSBC Duck Marsh with a hesitant first jump, but recovered with aplomb to enjoy a memorable ride.
Competition heats up
Clear rounds came thick and fast in the afternoon on the perfect, fast going, as temperatures rose to nearly 30°C, fortunately tempered with a cooling breeze, And, as the suspense built, both the main protagonists, Fredericks and Hoy, had their minor dramas.
Hoy sat tight as Ringwood Cockatoo stood off dramatically at the big corners at 22. “He isn’t the most confident horse with drop fences, and there were a lot of those, but he was always on my side,” she said.
Fredericks had to think quickly when she lost her reins as Headley Britannia launched into the Head of the Lake at fence 15 and the planned six strides turned into four. “It was somewhat unplanned!” commented Fredericks. “Brit was in control and there was no point taking a risk, so I took a longer route. After that I barely took a pull. She just motored and I had a fantastic ride over the second half of the course; it’s easier riding her into the bigger fences.”
Then there were happy family scenes as Buck Davidson greeted his father, Bruce – father and son had followed each other around the course at the beginning and end of the day – home clear on Cruise Lion, 20th.
“It was a big relief to see Dad come home through the finish on Cruise,” said Buck. “He had a fall a few weeks ago at Fork Farm – he wasn’t at all impressed when I suggested that he might not be able to ride at Kentucky! – and I was so relieved to see him come home, so I gave him a big hug. As I get older, the more proud I am of what he’s done for the sport.”
A new record?
If Headley Britannia wins, she will become only the second horse in history to win the Rolex Kentucky, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. The other was Primmore’s Pride, ridden by Pippa Funnell (GBR). Andrew Hoy (AUS) is the only other rider to have won all three.
QUOTES
Lucinda Fredericks: “I had an exhilarating ride. It took me a while to get into it because I only ride one horse at this level. Brit is very feisty but she’s also careful and you have to place her. In Hong Kong, she didn’t feel right – like driving a car with a flat tyre, and I’m just so glad to have her back. I’m totally thrilled that all the work we’ve put in has paid off. I’ve been a real stress-head at home!”
Bettina Hoy: “You could tell you were on a Mike Etherington-Smith course. It was fantastic and rode so well. Every competition is a bonus with Cockatoo now. He’s been a wonderful horse to me.”
Buck Davidson: “Bobby ran out of gas – I knew this would be an issue, not being a thoroughbred – but he dug deep and did his best. I’m so proud of him. The stadium jumping is his best phase. I’ve done my job today and now it’s up to him!”
Lucy Wiegersma: “I’ve had this horse since he was a foal and he’s always been a fabulous cross-country horse. I think he’s only had one 20 penalties in his whole career. The big surprise for me was how good his dressage was, as he’s always had a tendency to be a bit star-struck and he’s never been to anything like this before. He was a weak, raw-boned horse but now he’s matured and I’m thrilled with him.”
William Fox-Pitt: “Navigator was a bit green and he lost a shoe at fence 9, which made him lean a little. It’s a shame about his run-out, but he was every bit as good as I’d hoped and I’m very pleased with him.”
RESULTS
1 Lucinda Fredericks/Headley Britannia (AUS) 32.3
2 Bettina Hoy/Ringwood Cockatoo (GER) 38.4
3 Buck Davidson/My Boy Bobby (USA) 40.2
4 Tim Lips/Concrex Oncarlos (NED) 42
5 Nicolas Touzaint/Hildago de l’Ile 44.3
6 Lucy Wiegersma/Woodfalls Inigo Jones (GBR) 44.4
7 Oliver Townend/Carousel Quest (GBR) 45.2
8 William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie (GBR) 45.9
9 Phillip Dutton/Connaught (USA) 47.0
10 Stephen Bradley/Brandenburg’s Joshua (USA) 48.6
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