You can never predict it. The Top 3 after dressage are (L-R) Nicola Wilson, Michael Jung and Alexander Bragg
Michael Jung leads the CCI4* at Les Etoiles De Pau after the second day of dressage but this time it is on fischerTakinou, his European champion winner that missed going to Rio due a last minute infection. Today all three judges, Wayne Quarles (USA), Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Alain James (FRA), had Michael in the lead on a score of 39.3. It was a much more harmonious test than the one by Michael and fischerRocana the day before with fischerTakinou producing the rhythmical, correct test we’ve come to expect of the Olympic champion and his horses.
Michael and fischerTakinou
Even so, it was the second part of the test that moved the judges’ scoring up a notch; until the canter work only two 8’s were given and the score was trending in the mid to low 40’s which must have had second placed Alexander Bragg’s heart in his mouth. The canter work of fischerTakinou and the collective scores saw plenty of 8’s and 9’s, including two 9’s for the second flying change and a nine for the final halt to give them the only sub-40 score of the competition and move them into the lead.
Watch Michael and fischerTakinou’s full test here
While Olympic and European Champion Michael is a household name, there are probably a few people this morning wondering, who is Alexander Bragg? In second place riding his own Zagreb, Alexander has shot into the limelight, scoring 43 to be in a very good position at only his second CCI4* competition
Alexander Bragg and Zagreb were impressive at only their second 4* start
Alexander combines being an eventing rider with also being a farrier and running an equestrian business with his wife Simmone in Somerset and earlier this year he competed at his first CCI4* at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on two horses, Zagreb and Redpath Ransom. Zagreb, a 12 year old Dutch warmblood, scored 50.9 in the dressage at Burghley and was eliminated on the cross country late in the course at Discovery Valley but Alexander recovered to complete on Redpath Ransom around ‘the most gruelling test I have put either of the horses through’
Their dressage test here at Pau was consistently good apart from the flying changes where errors probably cost them the lead, being awarded 4’s and 6’s, and they head out on cross country tomorrow late in the day, just a few riders before Michael on fischerTakinou
Nicola Wilson and One Two Many
Third placed Nicola Wilson is scheduled to start on cross country just before Alexander and this is a ride to watch with interest. Nicola scored 43.6 on the 14 year old Irish Sport Horse One Two Many who has been super consistent at 3* level this year although the pair retired on course at Badminton. Nicola is also riding Annie Clover, currently in 32nd place
Michael Jung also has the advantage of riding two horses here – always a great strategy if you have the luxury of so many top horses – so will head out early on the experienced fischerRocana then will be the second last rider of the day on the 4* first timer fischerTakinou
The trailblazer Chris Burton is known for not hanging around on cross country but, with TS Jamaimo currently in 44th place, he may not go flat out to achieve the optimum time of 11 minutes around the 6270 m long course. However there may be all to play for tomorrow with the course, designed by Rio and Normandy course designer Pierre Michelet, offering chances to move up the leader board for those who rise to the challenge. It is a twisty course full of changes of direction and there is the reappearance of the carved fish that proved so influential at the 2014 World Equestrian Games at Haras du Pin (view all fences on course here)
One to watch - Maxime Livio and Qalao des Mers finished second at Luhmuhlen 4* this year, adding nothing to their dressage score
The top 15 riders are all within grasp of a podium finish and they should provide some entertaining viewing on live stream. Belgian rider Karin Donckers is fifth on Fletcha van’t Verahof, only 0.1 penalty ahead of New Zealander Jock Paget, sixth on Clifton Signature and France’s Maxime Livio is the highest placed of the home riders in seventh on Qalao des Mers.
Two British riders hold eighth and ninth places with Laura Collett, a member of the winning British team at the FEI Nations Cup Eventing final at Boekelo (NED) last weekend, riding 4* first timer Pamero, and Kirsty Johnston aboard Opposition Detective, and the USA’s Boyd Martin is in tenth place on the well travelled Cracker Jack
New Zealand’s Tim Price, the runner-up in 2015, is in 11th place on another CCI4* first timer Xavier Faer and last year’s winner, Astier Nicolas (FRA), is in 12th place on Molokai. Tina Cook is not far off the pace on Billy The Red and Calvino ll, currently holding 13th and 14th places and Ireland’s Sarah Ennis, one of many Irish riders here this week, is in 15th place on Horseware Stellor Rebound
Sonja Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison
Just outside of the top 15 is Australia’s Sonja Johnson riding Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison in 19th place on 50.4.
We all know that a bit of rain isn’t going to put fischerTakinou off his stride after his performance at the FEI European Championships at Blair Castle last year but, despite some miserable weather for the dressage days, the forecast is more cheerful for Saturday’s cross country and the little ‘teddy bear’ may just enjoy a little skip around his first 4* course in the sunshine
Cross country Livestream here or on FEI TV
