Europeans' Will Charge After Day 2 of Dressage
Europeans' Will Charge After Day 2 of Dressage
Apr 25th, 09
Lexington, KY – The afternoon of day two of dressage saw impressive scores, producing new leaders in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Bettina Hoy of Germany and Ringwood Cockatoo are in the lead with an impressive score of just 28.8 penalty points followed by Lucinda Fredericks of Australia and her Headley Britannia with 32.3 penalty points and American Buck Davidson and one of his two mounts, My Boy Bobby, with 39.0 penalty points.
Hoy was the first to go after the lunch break and put in a test that made those fans who were still lingering at lunch, or shopping, seriously regret that decision. The 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding looked completely at ease in the new arena and proved he has come to play.
"I think I was probably lucky that I was the first one after the lunch break," Hoy stated. "I don’t think Cockatoo actually knew that there was anyone watching until the applause started, but he is not a very nervous horse. He’s a very cool customer."
This impressive pair has many accolades but above all seem to be incredibly well tuned-in to each other. "Cockatoo has been wonderful all these years, especially in this phase," Hoy beamed. "He’s a bit like a professor, and it feels a bit at times like an old married couple now. We know exactly what to do and how to go about things. He seems to be getting better as he’s getting older. It’s a nice feeling."
Hoy also commented that this was the best score the pair has ever received in a four-star. "It’s certainly the best test he’s ever done," she said. "It felt very nice to ride."
Fredericks and Headley Britannia followed shortly after Hoy with another impressive ride. They also seem to be a pair that knows each other well. "Brit’s obviously a very different horse from most of these other horses on the event circuit," Fredericks stated. "She has to work very hard to produce exhilarating work. I love riding her. I don’t enjoy schooling her as she doesn’t give you a lot of feel, and there are only so many flying changes that I can do. I’ve spent the last few days all over the park trying to keep her amused and not doing too much schooling, and I was very pleased with the test. I don’t get particularly nervous in this phase, but I’ll be more nervous tomorrow."
The 16-year-old Headley Britannia is one of only four mares in the competition and comes in at just 15.3-hands. However, that doesn’t seem to bother this dynamic duo who also has a solid relationship, making them a strong threat. "I feel a bit like the two old women that go in and have fun," joked Fredericks. "She’s a professional now. I trust her to behave."
The theme of today’s leader board seemed to be those that had immediate family members that have won Rolex. In addition to Hoy and Fredericks’ husbands, Davidson’s father has also dominated this competition. Davidson’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, My Boy Bobby, is new to the four-star scene but was steady on a hot and windy day that could have rattled most newcomers.
"Unlike these two, I was scared to death today," Davidson joked. "Bobby is a very easy horse to ride. He has a great brain. I’d like to thank Bettina for all her help last year. It certainly added to what happened today. She changed my riding and my horses. It’s great to sit up here with these two greats and hopefully give them a run for their money this weekend."
According to Fredericks tomorrow’s cross-country course is a lot like Badminton with the last seven or eight fences being true four-star material. "I’m looking forward to riding it," she said. "The ground is fantastic. The fences are fair. There’s plenty out there where we can make a mistake. There are a lot of places where you need to steady down and set up. I’m sure I’m going to be going fast without taking any undo risks. I am too old for that. It is beautifully presented. It’s fair. It’s big enough. There are a lot of big fences at the end of a long big hill. It’s going to take some jumping."
Hoy’s one hope for tomorrow is for her horse to have a great time. "To be honest Cockatoo is 18 years old; he doesn’t owe me anything," she said. "I owe him everything, so I really want to go out and want him to enjoy the course. Every competition that he’s doing now is a real bonus to me. If at any stage I feel he’s had enough I will stop. I just want to have a good experience tomorrow and want him to have fun."
Cross-country will begin tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM first on course. Forty-nine riders will attempt tomorrow’s Mike Etherington-Smith-designed course and will ride in the same order as dressage.