The Horse Magazine

Rolex Kentucky Four Star...

DAY 1 - DRESSAGE

Story - Chris Hector Pix - Roz Neave

Poor Phillip Dutton, drawn first in the dressage on his grey gelding Drizzle (pictured left), and it would seem the pair pay the price. A lovely flowing rhythmic test is decidedly low scored on a 55.2 (this for a test that the next rider into the ring, Bruce Davidson described as ëawesomeí as he rode past Phillip). Later tests of far less quality scored far better.
David O‘Connor's test on Giltedge started a little tentatively but rapidly got better and stayed that way. It was a lovely test but perhaps a little generously scored with a 37 from a ground jury comprising Christoph Hess, Angela Tucker and Brian Ross.
Andrew Nicholson has perhaps been using his forced time at home with the Foot and Mouth outbreak, to practice his dressage, and certainly puts in one of the best tests I‘ ve ever seen from him, for a score of 40.6 on the supremely elegant Lord Killinghurst
In the group after lunch it was our own Phillip Dutton who starred. House Doctor (pictured right) has matured so much since Sydney, he looks a new horse (literally he has changed colour even!) It is a lovely elegant trouble free test, and on a score of 39.6 he is breathing right down David O' Connor‘s neck.
Andrew Nicholson has perhaps been using his forced time at home with the Foot and Mouth outbreak, to practice his dressage, and certainly puts in one of the best tests I‘ve ever seen from him, for a score of 40.6 on the supremely elegant Lord Killinghurst.
Young Kiwi rider, Heelan Tomkins (left) is all initiative and has brought Glengarrick over for her second try at Rolex, she last competed here in the grand campaigner, Masterpiece at the first four star in 1998. Heelan has spent several months at the NSW Equestrian Centre, even surviving Heath‘s five in the morning lessons, and the improvement shows. Glengarrick is never going to be an expansive mover, but the test is neat and accurate for 46.8.
Our other representative, Merran Wallis (right), with the Irish bred eventer, Belmont Ballygowan at his first four star, does not have such a happy trip. The test starts well enough but a tendency to flip the head, hurts on the score bored. 64.2

David O'Connor & Giltedge

For full results go to the official website www.rk3de.com

DAY 2 - DRESSAGE

Certainly the highlight of the second day's first half was the test from Bryce Newman and Dunstan Inishturk (pic. right). Bryce has the habit of riding really classy horses and this one is no exception, a lovely smooth relaxed test for 37.8
Ian Stark has a neat, even forward test on another superb NZ Thoroughbred, Arakai, and even with a bit of a jog in the walk is up there with the leaders on 41.4
Kimberly Vinoski was one of the hot riders in the lead up to Sydney but lost her top horse Over the Limit in the final stages of her Olympic bid. She has been hot this season with Jerry McGerry and they are looking great today. Such an elegant rider, and the horse is pretty too. A cute test for 38.4. The stands are packed as the individual gold medallists from Sydney, David O'Connor and Custom Made hit the arena. David says the horse is a day to day proposition, he can do great dressage or... At the beginning it looks as if he has taken the great dressage option, that is until the first canter diagonal where, according to David, it was 'off to the races. It was lucky we finished the race together'. 41.6 to just make the final top ten.
Andrew Nicholson (pic. left) is out on another horse, Mallards Treat, until recently the ride of British based Frenchman, Franck Bourny. This is Andrew's first competition ride on the horse but they are looking good. A little deep at times but a super extended trot and they hit every marker. Mrs Tucker who has been on the low side all through, suddenly comes alive as does Mr Ross, and Christoph Hess who has been the high score all through is the low score, and Andrew Nicholson is sitting out in front on 34.4!
Mrs Tucker is still in generous mode when Phillip Dutton rides in on Simply Red (pic.right), it's a nice test, even if they do get a bit fragile in the first extended trot diagonal, and the second flying change is a bit messy, but Mrs Tucker scores it the best test of the whole two days, the other two are not so enthused and Simply Red finishes in 6th, with a score of 40.
The riders are in agreement that the course is tougher than Sydney, watch this space, it could all be changed by tomorrow night.

For full results go to the official website www.rk3de.com

The CROSS COUNTRY COURSE

One of the difficult challenges for any course designer is the going, and it has been unseasonably dry in Kentucky this year. The ground is hard, very hard. Luckily Mike Etherington-Smith spied a wonderful looking ground aerator in the trade stand, he made enquiries and found that the exhibitor had a bigger better version at home and he would be happy to bring it to the Horse Park for Mike's ground crew to play with. "It's really a heavy duty kit," says Mike, "and ideal for what we want here. It doesn't just go into the ground, it gives it a shake about and we'll follow that with water, which hopefully will go straight into the ground. I'd like to take one home with me. There's not a lot you can do about the problem, it's just dry. In other parts of the world, riders are used to running on hard ground. By cross country day, there will be a lot more sand on the takeoffs and the landings." Sooner or later the question had to come - how does this course compare with Sydney? "It's hard to say. In Sydney you were coping for a broader standard of competitor - whether that is fair or unfair, I don't know. This course at Lexington is a bit more technical I think. The team course in Sydney was definitely a shade more difficult than the individual, which is how I set out for it to be, but this is definitely more technical than either of those. Ask the riders, course designers don't know a lot, that's a well known fact. I don't like comparing one course to another, they've all got their own character, I'm very comfortable with the level here, it is a real four star course. It's a problem in the first or second year, when you have people taking a crack at the course without a lot of experience, as well as some riders who do have the experience, so you probably don't go the whole hog straight in, at the end of the day we are here to produce horses and riders not to write them off. Cross country is important, but it is only part of the competition - it is very easy to over-cook cross country courses, and you don't have to be a hero to do that. We want the best horses and riders to win, and by and large, they are the ones that come out on top, the best prepared, and those that are on their game." Mike was asked what he thought of the suggestion that instead of having time consuming options there should be easier and harder options with a points penalty for taking the easier jump. It's not an idea that finds favor with him: "I don't like that idea at all, I think it is going to encourage less experienced riders on less experienced horses to maybe try and jump things they shouldn't be jumping. If you are given an automatic penalty and you can't 'earn' it back then you encourage people to jump things they shouldn't be jumping. At least when there is a time penalty, the boys and girls going around reckon they can take one or two options and still get time, you can take the long option and still earn it back." "What I've tried to do this year is stiffen the back part of the course, so the riders know they have to keep something extra in the tank to get home. I'm happy with the level, but let's see how it looks after the cross country".

Click here to view the full course walk with pics....www.chronofhorse.com/kentucky/day1/course_walk.

DAY 3 - CROSS COUNTRY

Cross country day and the weather was perfect for all concerned. Bright sun for spectators and photographers, and a lovely cool breeze to help the horses around Lexington’s picturesque Horse Park.
David O'Connor was out early on Giltedge(pic left):
"He was pretty well foot perfect all around the way. There was one anxious moment at the stone corner at the end, he pretty much left out a stride and skidded across the top, he's not a horse that usually does that so it really surprised me. Otherwise he just jumped foot perfect, it was very slippery that morning. I actually had a fall on him on phase C trotting around on the flat, he just slipped and fell, so the grass has a little bit of dew, and on the hard ground, that's making it slippery." "I thought the course was pretty well right - Mike ES's courses are usually very very big and you have to go and if you go you are going to get rewarded. If you get careful you are going to pay a penalty. The only one that surprised me is at the second water; it looks like it rides better coming out in five. I was walking four and when I saw Eagle Lion do well it in five, and 'Tex' did it in five. I'll try to do it in five on Custom Made if he's in control. Custom Made's whole thing is about control, yesterday he was bolting with me in the dressage, if he tries to do that today then it might be an interesting ride. He's got a good turn of foot and he tries to be careful, he's a scopey horse, and if he and I have communication we should get through great."
The pair added 1.6 time finishing the day on 38.6 in third place.
Andrew Nicholson maintained his lead and dressage score of 34.4 on Mallards Treat (pic right), with a perfect clear-clear. With his second ride, Lord Killinghurst, he added just .8 time so finished the day with first and fifth.
Bryce Newman (pic below) added nothing to his score either, so his score remained 37.8 and kept him in second place.
Merran Wallis had a tip-up and was carted off to hospital with a fracture, we’ll try and find out more tomorrow.
Poor Phillip Dutton had two rides he’d rather forget. Being first out with Drizzle, he too suffered from the early morning dew on the grass, slipping over between fences – that didn’t count as a fall of course, but unfortunately a run-out did, and a 20 penalty plus 12 time meant a final score of 87.2
His fall from House Doctor did count though, and they plunged from fifth to thirty-fifth.
Third time lucky though and with Simply Red (pic right) he added a simple 1.2 time to finish the day in fourth position.

For full results go to the official website www.rk3de.com

DAY 4 - CROSS COUNTRY
What a finish!

Andrew Nicholson got the day off to a fairly bizarre start when he trotted out the decidedly three legged Lord Killinghurst; as he led the horse back to the jury, he cracked a wry smile, shrugged and kept on going. He didn't need to wait to hear what they thought.
Giltedge looked a little sore but was passed, and Heelan Tompkins' little Glengarrick was sent to the holding box, but passed the second time which was lucky because Heelan could have got the skirt any shorter or her top any lower!
Phillip Dutton didn't present Drizzle, he felt he could have got him through but with the horse right down the ladder, it was better to leave him in the stable.
Out of the first half of the showjumping there were only four clears, and two of them came from Bruce Davidson jumping out of order with Eagle Lion and Apparition.
David O'Connor had a very careful clear on Custom Made, careful and slow. 6 time.

Right - Heelan and Glengarrick

Six times Rolex winner, Bruce Davidson and Little Tricky (one of the ten clears on the cross country) were clear with one time.
Heelan and Glengarrick were gallant around the course, just one rail down, and you hope there are a couple of red faced Kiwi selectors on the other side of the world.
Rodney Powell had one rail and no time with Flintstone V and the same for Ian Stark and Arakai.

Jumping into 5th place -Ian and Arakai

Simply Red was jumping like a showjumper, giving the jumps so much air, and Phillip was giving him every chance - clear, no time for a really great round, and the pressure is on the top three, will they crack?
Well David O'Connor is certainly not showing the pressure. A super cool clear on Giltedge, no time, and the pressure is on the Kiwi duo....
Bryce's baby takes out three rails and picks up another 2 time to drop right out of the top ten.
Mallards Treat went clear in the showjumping when he won Blenheim and Punchestown with his former rider, British based Frenchman, Francke Bourny (Question: How did you get the ride? Andrew: "The owners just rang me. It's not my job to know why I've been offered a ride. You don't say 'no' to a horse that has won two three stars in a row.").

A super cool clear for David O'Connor and Giltedge

The horse is disunited going to the big white fence at the far end, and has it down, another rail hits the deck, and with 10 jumping and 5 time, Andrew is down in seventh, just one place in front of Heelan.
Simply Red and Phillip on their way to a great second place

It is a wonderful finish to what has been a superb event.
1. David O'Connor and Giltedge (38.6), 2. Phillip Dutton and Simply Red (41.2), 3. David O'Connor and Custom Made (47.6), 4. Bruce Davidson and Little Tricky on 48 tied with 5. Ian Stark and Arakai, with Bruce closer to optimum on the cross country, 6. Rodney Powell and Flintstone (48.8), 7. Andrew Nicholson and Mallards Treat (49.4), 8. Heelan Tompkins and Glengarrick (51.8) closer to time than 9. Bruce Davidson and Apparition (51.8), 10. Bruce Davidson and Eagle Lion (54.2)

Rider Interviews...

Bruce Davidson after his ride on Eagle Lion:
The course is hard work, it's not straightforward. I was going to do the corner after the bank, then when I came off after the bounce, then at the last minute I thought I'm not just where I want to be, I might as well zip around, that's where I picked up the time. I had an anxious moment at the Coffin, he rubbed the end, but otherwise he jumped beautifully. The going is firm and slippery. With my other rides I'll just try to keep on repeating what I did.

Phillip Dutton after his ride on Drizzle:
I was a bit disappointed when he ducked out on me coming out of the second water to the brush, we need to talk and work out what's happening there, I think it is riding alright, maybe he just didn't quite focus on that jump, maybe I should have directed him a little better. He jumped up quite well, and got up there on the island, maybe I should have been a bit firmer with him in the mouth. But I thought I was doing it pretty good, so maybe I was a bit casual. It's quite slippery, and he just slipped over on the turn after the big oxer before the quarry. It wasn't the greatest round, but it is the first four star that he has done, he didn't get around last year with another rider, so I'm pretty happy with him. He's a real trier, he might not be the most gifted but he tries very hard. The ground was very fast, it was a bit slick at the moment but I think it will improve as it goes along. I might put a bit bigger stud in for my other rides. Unfortunately I was the first one to find out... House Doctor should handle this, the other horse is a bit green so I'll be doing a few options with him. I was going to take the corner option after the bank bounce, but I had such a bad ride over the bounces I decided to change my mind just to give him a little bit of confidence.

Heelan Tompkins after her ride on Glengarrick:
He was awesome - I made so many mistakes out there. Through the water he took off a stride early off the bank, I've got like one stirrup and he says 'ok' and straight through. He is so honest. At the bounce on the bank I was going to take the corner but he caught his back legs on the back of it. I could have held him up, but the way I rode the whole course was more of the way I did there, I just kept kicking him. He got a little tired at the end but we still had a little left. I was about thirty down coming out of the second water and he just caught it up out the back. I think I was pretty right on the time... I wonder if they have a prize for the one closest to the time - a Rolex watch maybe. Before we did it, I thought it was a good course because when people asked you which fence you didn't like, you didn't say one because every single fence was hard, even the mushroom in the arena was tough. Usually I will go in and I will worry about the water but this one you were worried about the corner there, and the bounce there, there were so many things, and it was big. It was different to Adelaide, there were more let up fences, but I thought the water to the corner was just as technical at Adelaide. This Lexington course is the course for the big bold horse. My horse is so little. At the trot up there were all these seventeen hand American horses, they are huge. I was ninth when I came here in 1998, with 17 times faults and two rails. Glengarrick is a better horse than Masterpiece, younger and fitter. I'm just glad to get it over, I hate waiting, every morning, it's like 'why do you do this?'

Phillip Dutton after his cross country ride on Simply Red:
"Wayne Roycroft said to me 'start him out and get him confident and come home stronger if he feels alright, and that's what I did. He's quite a fast horse, and I took two options, I think he'd only done one three star event before. Lucinda Murray had him in Britain but I don't think he's done that much. He lacks a little confidence. Kelli McMullen-Temple bought him from Lucinda. Kelli didn't get along with the horse, so she sent him to me to get him going. After a while, I bought a half share in him. I get along with him.

Bryce Newman after his cross country ride with Dunstan Inishturk:
Have you proved you can train out of the Southern Hemisphere and win anywhere in the world?
"Not anywhere. Nick Larkin proved a few years ago that we can definitely go to the United States, and of course we go to Australia a lot, but shipping them to England to compete that's not likely, I've taken a few up there, and they are all different horses when they get out of the plane."
Where did you find Dunstan Inishturk?
"I had him thrust upon me. I had him given to me by a friend. I was to train him initially, and then it was decided he and I had the same warped mind, so we stayed together. It has been a pretty meteoric rise for him, I've had him slightly under two years and he was a novice horse with 5 points when I got him, so he has come pretty quick."
Will you leave the three days alone this year and concentrate on Jerez, or will you take him to Adelaide?
"I don't know, we'll just get him through this event and make sure he is good. I've got another horse at home for Adelaide. I'll wait and see how he pulls up, he's got six weeks here before I can take him home, it just depends on what sort of order we get him home in."
Did you take any slow options today?
"In the main arena, I took the double mushrooms there. I looked at the course and was concerned in a couple of places, because he is so inexperienced. The advantage of being so late in the draw, is that I saw the course was jumping well, and I thought I better toughen up. It wasn't that I didn't like the mushroom in the main arena, it was that somewhere on the course I had to give him a breather. He got a little bit tired, but when I put my leg on, he just flew and I thought, 'oh my god, how much have you got?' I was 3 to 4 seconds under time when I came in. It's astounding this horse is just getting fitter and fitter. He knows no limit because he's gone up the grades so quick, after today he's probably saying to himself 'hell, how much bigger do they get?' I don't think I had a messy spot out there - well messy for me, it might be fairly untidy for somebody else. I just hope we look after him tonight and he comes out tomorrow and tries - that's all you can ask. He can have a showjumping pole down like the rest of them, it has probably been his weakest phase, and I've worked pretty hard on it, you wouldn't call him a 100% showjumper but he is starting to try as hard as he can and you can't ask any more."
Is this your first four star run for a while?
"It's my first ever four star run. I've spent a lot of time overseas and round about, but money is quite important to me, it's up there with oxygen, and I just sell the horses. It's lucky with this one, it's the only horse I've got an owner in. I usually have them all myself. Greer Drinkrow who owns him has told me I can't sell him, so here we are and we are having a lot of fun so far."

Bruce Davidson after his run on Little Tricky:
"He was not tired, he was flying, and every time I gave him a little, he just said 'right let's go.' I should have run him in the Grand National (America's number one steeplechase) - maybe I still will! I bred him, I know him well, his mother and father are the same way.

Phillip Dutton after his run (and fall) with House Doctor:
"It was my fault, I went in a little long at those corners. He was getting a bit tired and he wasn't sure he should be leaving from there, he half chipped in, spread-eagled a little, and I went out the front. I didn't get him back quite enough, the distance I got was a little long and he questioned it and backed off. It's a shame he was going so well. That's the way it goes."
Do you feel he has improved since Sydney?
"He's getting better all the time. He's actually quite a weak horse strength wise, he never raced, he's only going to get better. His flat work is a bit the same. It's a little hard to keep him up, after half an hour's work he is wanting to drop down. He's getting better all the time."