Alison Springer is happy with Arthur's test
Alison Springer and Arthur once again lead the dressage phase at Rolex Kentucky. During the second day of dressage at Kentucky Horse Park, where over 13,000 were glued to their seats in the main arena, the marks kept improving until finally an emotional Alison broke the 40 barrier to finish in the lead on a score of 39.5.
Alison and Arthur, a 15-year-old US-bred Irish Sporthorse, led here after dressage in 2012 but she felt that this year Arthur went into the ring a much more confident horse saying “I think maybe we're both maturing a little bit and I do think this one was a bit better"
Two-time Rolex Kentucky winner William Fox-Pitt is the only non-USA rider in the top 10 in second place on Bay My Hero (44.0) and tenth on Seacookie while Lauren Kieffer is third on Veronica (46.7).
Both William and Alison rode in the mid-afternoon, by which time the weather had turned quite blustery but William was pleased with the less experienced 'pony' Bay My Hero saying "He can be quite easily distracted, because he likes to look at everything. But he really held it together well" adding “It’s a huge relief to score 44 because the marking has been quite strict, but he’s a real trier.”
Lauren Kieffer (USA), 26, who has not ridden at a CCI4* since finishing 29th in 2010 on Snooze Alarm, finds herself in elevated company in third place on 46.7. Originally from Illinois, Lauren is trained by David and Karen O’Connor, and now has the ride on the 12-year-old mare Veronica, who Karen rode here in 2012. Find out more about what the top three riders thought of their rides in the Press Conference video below
Three riders are tied for fourth with a score of 49.5; Thursday's leader Michael Pollard on Mensa G, Phillip Dutton on Mr. Medicott, and Jan Byyny on Inmidair. Will Faudree, who stood second on Thursday with Pawlow, is now seventh (49.8) and Australia’s only competitor, Kate Chadderton goes into the cross country in 52nd place on a score of 68.2.
The strong results of the USA riders has put the home country into the lead of the new Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge with the United States on a score of 135.7 penalties. However you can’t really go wrong when William Fox-Pitt is two-thirds of your team and the British team consisting of William’s two horses and Sarah Bullimore on Reve Du Rouet, the British team's second-placed score is 148.2. Canada, with a 54.7 from Jessica Phoenix on Pavarotti and two scores from Selena O'Hanlon, is third with 168.5.
Andrew Nicholson has been the centre of attention during the last few days for different reasons but now looks focussed on one thing
New Zealand’s two competitors Andrew Nicholson and Sir Mark Todd are in equal 11th and 38th place respectively. Andrew found that Avebury not 100% happy on the all weather surface of the Rolex Arena “It wasn't as good as he is on grass - I thought he might be a bit like this on this surface - grass gives him a little bit more balance. I was having to ride him a bit more strongly in there to keep him looking half active. But he's good. I know he can do better than that”
The stadium atmosphere was a bit much for Oloa today but can Sir Mark use his many years' experience to move up the leader board on cross country?
Sir Mark, riding Oloa, has the amazing ability to pull the cat out of the bag when required on cross country and Andrew, riding Avebury and in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam, is still in close contention on a score of 51.7. These two very experienced riders, along with William, will certainly have an advantage tomorrow with a difficult cross country course designed by Derek di Grazia coming up
The jump that's grabbing their attention the most is a new creation, fences 16AB, the Angled Brushes.
"I think the angled hedges are about the most severe angle I've ever jumped," said Alison Springer "But I really trust Derek as a course designer, and I have a lot of faith in Arthur."
William says "We've all been squinting at them to try to make them look better. The horses will need to be really on the ball there and all around the course. It's a tough track, but I think the horses should finish well. It's going to take some jumping."
As well as the Angled Brushes, the course presents the usual mix of big, bold fences and accuracy tests, most notably a different route at Kentucky’s famous Head of the Lake water complex (18/19) and a new combination at 14abc, the Land Rover at the Hollow, where a keyhole fence is followed by a difficult line to a corner and a forward distance to an oxer.
Former Olympic gold medalist Jimmy Wofford (USA) predicts that this combination will be influential. He describes the field as “relatively inexperienced and extremely talented” and says that “Some will amaze us and some we’ll feel sorry for. It’s a hard course.”
Find out more about the course in the video below with Jimmy Wofford and Derek Di Grazia or view our fence-by-fence cross country walk along with other daily galleries from Kentucky in our photo gallery here
