A great start to her 4* debut for 19 year old Emily King
Mark Todd said yesterday that he had hoped to sneak down to Pau for a quick win but with Michael Jung around, that was always going to be tough.
The old master and NZB Campino, currently the horse at the top of the British Eventing leader board produced a nice test to finish in 14th place but, apart from Michael Jung’s winning test which we’ll come to, it was the youngsters that really impressed the judges in yesterday’s dressage.
Emily King had a great start to her first CCI4* with a third place and score of 38.3 on Brookleigh, the horse previously owned by Australian Nikki Brooks and ridden by Clayton Fredericks. Emily and Brookleigh recently finished second at Ballindenisk CIC3* behind Mark and NZB Campino; at that event Emily led on a dressage score of 35.6 but two rails in the show jumping and a few time penalties on cross country dropped them into second place.
At her first CCI4*, things might be a little trickier but Emily has an amazing support crew on hand, particularly with mum Mary providing support and guidance. Mary knows the ups and downs of Pau, having had not the best of events there in more recent times but has also finished second and fourth on Imperial Cavalier in past years
Like Michael Jung’s test on Thursday, Emily produced a very consistent performance on Brookleigh apart from a little hiccup in the flying changes which brought their score down – without these fluffs (which resulted in scores of 4, 3 and 5 scores for one of the changes), Emily may well have overtaken Mr. Jung who produced two fault free tests. Still, it’s a pretty impressive performance from Emily and her 13 year old gelding to be in third place on 38.3
Astier Nicolas and Piaf De B’Neville
Only 0.2 penalties behind Emily in fourth place is another rising young star, this time a Frenchman which will be making the home side very happy. 26 year old Astier Nicolas currently resides in England but has brought his Selle Francais gelding Piaf De B’Neville home to compete; the pair competed at Badminton in 2013 to finish in ninth place on their dressage score so if they can do the same here, things are looking good.
Although not very tall, Astier presents a lovely, elegant picture on a horse and Piaf De B’Neville has expressive paces but, despite a few nines, a few low marks of 5.5 and 6.5 once again kept him below Michael Jung. Astier’s compatriot Karim Florent Laghouag is in sixth place on the 10-year-old black stallion Entebbe de Hus with a score of 40.6
Another young gun, Tim Lips riding Concrex Bayro also put in a very good performance for seventh place on 40.9. They started very strongly but once again a little mistake in the changes brought the average down and they certainly know how to do a square halt. This impressive grey horse is only nine years old and is one that Tim thinks very highly of – they did very well at Luhmuhlen earlier this year to finish in seventh place and another flat course here could suit them well.
Tim Price and Wesko
Last year at Luhmuhlen Tim Price and Wesko won the CCI4* with Michael Jung the runner-up, but this year the positions were reversed at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* where Michael took the honours. Tim and Wesko are currently in fifth place on a score of 40 and will be chasing another win over Michael here but with Mr Jung in such fine form, it will not be easy.
Tim’s wife, Jonelle aboard Faerie Dianimo who finished fourth here last year, posted 47.7 for 19th place but Jonelle will have to wait until next year to try and win her first 4* as they have withdrawn before the cross country. She has some words of advice for the other riders however
Two other Antipodeans are in the top ten with Paul Tapner riding Indian Mill in eighth place (42.3) and Bill Levett riding Shannondale Titan in tenth (42.90), just behind the American rider Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda (42.6).
Paul Tapner and Indian Mill
Indian Mill has some quite flashy paces which Paul shows off around the arena as well as inside it while Jennie was delighted with her horse and the scores
“I was so thrilled he was close to 70% after his trot work since that is usually the weakest point of his test. His canter work is usually what brings my score and I was thrilled to see a nine on a change. To be honest, it was very cool to sit inside the top 10 after dressage in such a strong field but I know this isn’t a dressage show and I need to have my head screwed on straight tomorrow. I plan to fight for this.”
They will all need to fight for it as they are chasing a man on the top of his game, despite still not being able to walk really well after his ankle surgery. Michael was one of the last riders in the arena on his second horse Halunke and he immediately shot into pole position with the first scores on the board. Halunke was not quite as consistent as fischerRocana according to the judges with a dodgy rein back causing a blip but they produced more 9’s and, to my mind, he is a more impressive horse to watch. At the end of the day Michael was in first and second places – you couldn’t ask for more really could you?
Beautiful - Michael Jung and Halunke FBW, an 11-year-old black gelding by Heraldik
Only Sarah Bullimore and Lily Corinne could have beaten them and this pair does have the ability to produce a great test but it wasn’t Lil’s day today. This is another horse with pizzazz but the pizzazz was a little frazzled in the arena, especially in the rein back when Lily threatened to rear as a plane flew overhead. Their scores plummeted from a potential top ten finish to finish in 29th place but Sarah has two other horses in the top 20 and will be the first rider on course tomorrow riding Valentino V
