Day 3 of Kentucky with Oliver Townend on Course to Make History
The sun shone down on the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course, set by Derek di Grazia, with Great Britain’s Oliver Townend showing why he is the defending champion. Producing a brilliant clear round, finishing with just 1.2 time faults despite losing a shoe half way around the course, Townend remains in the lead on a score of 25.3 heading into tomorrow’s final show jumping phase.
Much to the delight of the home crowd, USA’s Boyd Martin made the course look easy aboard Tsetserleg, just one of only four partnerships to finish inside the optimum time of 11.20, to end the day in second place. The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing live contender, Tim Price (NZL), climbed up to third position with the stunning bay gelding, Xavier Faer, keeping his dressage score of 30.9.
The rumours of the technically challenging course proved to be true, with the first three horse and rider combinations unable to complete, resulting in elimination. USA’s Will Coleman was the first rider to go below the 11.20 time set, with Olympic bronze medallist Phillip Dutton producing a masterclass round with Z finishing two seconds under the time.
Townend commented on his ride:
Once I realised the shoe had gone, I was conscious of having to balance more and be more conservative than I usually would be.”
He was certainly a bit keener than he was last year, he felt stronger and was definitely up for it, his ears were pricked all the way. He made his own mind up over a couple of the jumps and at times I felt like he was more in control than I was – he did his job well and is becoming an incredible horse.”
Oliver Townend, Great Britain
The history books could be re-written if Townend produces a clear round in tomorrow’s show jumping, as he will become the first British equestrian to win back-to-back Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event titles.
Just 8.2 penalties separate the top five athletes, which include the World No.1, the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, the FEI World Equestrian Games team gold medallist and the current Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing live contender, so there will be no room for error in what will be a closely fought competition.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
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