The 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the Western Hemisphere’s only Four Star Three-Day Event. As part of the HSBC FEI Classics Series it features some of the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. This year’s Event also features selection trials to choose the U.S. Eventing team for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
With the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials following hard on its heels (May 4th -7th), it poses a logistical problem for many riders who have to choose between the two events. This year, with London 2012 looming, most of the Australian riders have plumped for Badminton and the only two Australian entries are Kadi Eykamp riding Double Rivers Dillon and Andrew Hoy riding Rutherglen. US-based Aussie Peter Atkins had also decided to choose Badminton over Kentucky but has unfortunately broken his leg and now will not be fit for either but is hoping to run his very popular horse, Henry Jota Hampton at Luhmuhlen in June. Kevin McNab had entered Clifton Pinot but also has unfortunately had to withdraw.
Andrew Hoy needs little introduction as a six-time Olympic veteran with an individual silver (2000) and three team gold (1992, 1996, 2000) medals and, maybe more importantly for this event, was the 2006 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* champion on Master Monarch. Based in the UK, Andrew has been out of the limelight more recently but has been showing good form at pre-Badminton events such as Aldon and Belton Park on his horses Cheeky Calimbo and Rutherglen. He will be riding Rutherglen at this event, obviously in hope of a good result to make the selectors take note as this is his EA National A Squad listed horse.
Kadi and Double Rivers Dillon Photo: Samantha Clark
Kadi is also on the National A Squad with her Rolex Kentucky mount Double Rivers Dillon. This horse is owned by her husband, Mark Hearl who is also the reason that Kadi left her native Australia to live in America in 2006. Kadi is best known in Australia for her four star horses Seal, Maximum Overkill and the very talented mare Isabella Rossellini who was long listed for the Athens Olympics. Kadi will no doubt be hoping that a good performance at Rolex will see her travelling to the Australian squad training camp in the UK.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on these two Australian riders for sure when the action begins on Wednesday 25th with the trot-up. However, just to show that we are not one-eyed Australians (after all, we’re not even Australian and we definitely have two eyes) there are many other notable names we will be following with interest.
One of our favourite Brits, William Fox-Pitt will be riding his Burghley 2011 winner, Parklane Hawk at Rolex. The horse has already flown to the US and William flew out of the UK to join him on Monday then will head straight back for Badminton where he has several horses currently entered. He does of course have good reason to try and win both Rolex Kentucky and Badminton; as the winner of last year’s Burghley he has the chance to emulate Pippa Funnell’s achievement of winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing mentioned above.
Wiliam and Parklane Hawk at home
Our dear Kiwi friends are not only on form but, if our dear NZ photographer Libby Law gets her way, they will be the only riders photographed! Andrew Nicholson is riding Calico Joe and Qwanza, Lucy Jackson is riding Kilcotrim Ambassador and Jock (Jonathan) Paget has taken Clifton Promise.
Jock has ridden in Kentucky twice before, both in 2010 – at the Rolex and the World Equestrian Games where he finished seventh.
“I love this event,” he says, “and I am very happy to be here. I’ll be trying my best, that’s for sure. I am lucky enough to have such a special horse who is capable of winning if everything goes our way, but this is a four star event and the best in the world are here.”
He says everything will have to go perfectly for them.
“It feels a bit like the calm before the storm. I’m taking each day as it comes.”
Both of Andrew’s horses are having their first four star starts.
“It is a beautiful place to come to and from a distance the cross country looks similar to what it was at the World Champs (in 2010, where he won a bronze individual medal),” he says. “I would like to win but I may be pushing a bit – there are some very experienced four star horses here, but these two will hold their own. If we are near enough in the dressage we could do well.”
Lucy Jackson
Meanwhile Lucy is bubbling with excitement.
“This is my first trip to Rolex so is hugely exciting! The weather is freezing but that will suit my boy. I can’t get over the scale of the site – there are hundreds of acres of hundreds and stables.”
And we mustn’t forget the ex-pats. Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton may have changed nationality but they are still Aussie boys to us and we’ll be interested to see how their rides go on Remington XXV and Otis Barbotiere (for Boyd) and Mighty Nice and Fernhill Eagle (for Phillip).
It’s going to be a great week of eventing coverage from Rolex Kentucky so stay tuned for the multinational coverage on An Eventful Life
