Mary King riding Apache Sauce is the leader after the first day of dressage at Les Etoiles de Pau 4* in France with William Fox-Pitt in hot pursuit on Macchiato. Clayton Fredericks on Dunge's Laurent Rose is in 7th and Chris Burton on Newsprint is in 8th. Fellow Australians Wendy Schaeffer, Paul Tapner and the second ride for Clayton and Chris are in the dressage ring today (Friday) Australian rider Paul Tapner leads the 2* after dressage on Kilronan, with Andrew Nicholson and Caroline Powell of NZ in 2nd and 3rd places
HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 - closely fought battle Only series leader Mary King (GBR) or compatriot William Fox-Pitt can win this year’s HSBC FEI Classics™ and with just 13 points between them it will be an intense finale. Fox-Pitt, who won the HSBC FEI Classics™ in 2008 and 2010, can only beat King if he wins and she finishes lower than eighth. So while he heads into Pau as the world number one in the HSBC Rankings - this time 13 points ahead of Mary and with the prospect of receiving the 50,000 USD bonus - he is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to become Series Champion and has taken advantage of Pau’s decision to allow riders to compete with three horses. Fox-Pitt rides two nine-year-olds, Oslo and Lionheart, recently first and third in the Blenheim (GBR) CIC3* for young horses, and the experienced CCI4* horse Macchiato, fifth at Burghley (GBR) last year. King, who has declared the HSBC FEI Classics™ to be her major goal this year, has planned her season carefully and still has two horses fresh: Apache Sauce, eighth at Luhmühlen, and Imperial Cavalier on which she was third at Badminton (GBR) but suffered a fall at the HSBC FEI European Championships. “Pau will provide a unique opportunity for athletes who have not figured prominently in this year’s HSBC FEI Classics™ to get an early foothold on the 2012 series,” explained Catrin Norinder, Director of Eventing & Olympic at the FEI. “We have seen incredible performances this season and we expect some significant changes at the top of the leaderboard at Pau - it will be a fitting finale and launch into the 2012 season.” Piggy French (GBR) and Mark Todd (NZL), currently occupying third and fourth places, do not have rides for Pau. Likewise, Andreas Dibowski (GER) who is in fifth place will not be competing in Pau. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), who is in sixth place, is only just outside the top five money prizes and could benefit with his three experienced rides: Mr Cruise Control, Henry Tankerville and Armada. His compatriot Caroline Powell (NZL), currently seventh, was in the money last year, and she could do it again this time with Boston Two Tips. Clayton Fredericks (AUS), ninth, is also sure to give it his best with Dunges Laurent Rose and Bendigo, and no one should rule out the European bronze medallist Frank Ostholt (GER), who has his Olympic horse Mr Medicott back in action. Former dual European Champion Nicolas Touzaint (FRA), who has his 2008 Badminton winner Hildago d’Isle back in action, is also sure to take advantage of the new format at what promises to be a very exciting, competitive and - for some - a lucrative weekend at Pau.
