William Fox-Pitt and the 2013 CCI3* winner, Chilli Morning
It’s a strong field at the Yorkshire event taking place at the home of the Lane-Fox family this weekend, with more than 160 riders from 13 countries competing in the Equi-Trek CCI3*, the British Equestrian Trade Association CIC3* and the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI3* at Bramham Horse Trials
Zara Phillips is making her return to three-star level here bringing both of her top horses, High Kingdom and Black Tuxedo to compete in the CIC3* and she is joined by her Olympic team member William Fox-Pitt in this class riding last year’s winner of the CCI3*, Chilli Morning
William is actually a seven time winner here at Bramham and this year he has opted to ride the less experienced Freddie Mac, who is Yorkshire-owned by Lady Best and Jane Keir, in his CCI three-star debut.
The local Olympic silver medallist Nicola Wilson will be riding Annie Clover and One Two Many, previously ridden by Australia’s Bill Levett, while Tina Cook and Mary King complete the 2012 Olympic quintet riding Star Witness and MHS King Joules. Another local link is with Huddersfield-born Oliver Townend who has been going very well lately, especially with his lower level horses, but this week he brings ODT Ghareeb for the CCI 3* and Black Tie II for the CIC.
Two other horses competing here have previously been partnered with Australian riders; Koyuna Sun Storm, the Brilliant Invader mare that won the Sydney 3 Day Event CCI3* in 2009 and to be to be ridden in the CIC3* by Daisy Berkeley, was previously ridden by Wendy Schaeffer while young Emily King is riding Brookleigh, previously ridden by Clayton Fredericks, also in the CIC
The French horses and riders also seem to enjoy the Yorkshire air – last year Didier Dhennin and Opi de Saint Leo took third place in the CCI3* and this year many French names are listed, including the recent winners at Saumur, Maxime Livio and Thomas Carlile. Thomas certainly won’t have any problem being understood here being born in the north of England although he lives and rides for France now
Former Bramham winner, Australia’s Paul Tapner was to have competed here but has returned home for his father’s funeral but New Zealand’s Sir Mark Todd rides both NZB Campino and the recent Chatsworth CIC three-star winner Amacuzzi in the CCI event.
Dressage gets underway on Thursday June 5 and continues on Friday while Saturday starts with the CIC showjumping and then all three sections head out to the scenic parkland to tackle Ian Stark’s cross-country course and complete with show jumping on Sunday
The weekend also features the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Four and Five Year Old qualifiers plus the HorseDirect Event Horse Breeding and Young Stock Classes for foals to three-year-olds.
Libby Law will be bringing our 4* members a gallery round-up of the action at Bramham early next week while our feature event this weekend will be the Melbourne International Horse Trials
