Phillip Wins 2008 Rolex Kentucky
Phillip Wins 2008 Rolex Kentucky
Nov 13th, 08
IT'S FINALLY A FIRST FOR PHILLP DUTTON
AND THE HIGH-FLYING CONNAUGHT
In just his second year riding for the United States, Phillip Dutton has won his first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with a score of 41.7 with the 1993 Irish Sport Horse gelding. Dutton previously rode for the other red, white and blue, Australia, and has taken second at this event five times.
"It feels a lot better to win rather than to come in second," joked Dutton. "I actually have not been worried about the fact that I haven’t won. Everybody else seems to be more concerned about it."
Earning one of only two double-clear rounds, in the Richard Jeffery designed Show Jumping course that included 16 jumping efforts in a time allowed of 88 seconds, made the difference for this year’s champion. "The horse never wants to hit a rail," said Dutton. "All this year I’ve been a little slow on the time in Show Jumping. I galloped to the finish like a little Pony Club kid looking up at the clock to see what time I had."
Becky Holder, who held the coveted first place spot for three straight days earned second place after she and Courageous Comet pulled two rails today giving them a final score of 47.3. "I’m absolutely thrilled with my horse, thrilled with our round, and I think it’s not too bad to come in second to Phillip Dutton," Holder said with a smile. "I knew that going into Show Jumping I could expect a clear round out of Phillip. I had already mentally prepared myself for that pressure, so that was not a surprise at all for me."
In third place with a final score of 57.3 was Missy Ransehousen aboard Critical Decision. Ransehousen commented that her horse usually pulls a few rails so she was pleasantly surprised with pulling just one today. "I must say I am quite thrilled with my horse," she said. "Usually with a crowd he can get very excited…My goal today was just to try to get him flowing through the course the best I could and keeping him as relaxed and feeling confident in himself as he went along. I was very pleased with his performance, and I felt like we really worked together out there today."
Yesterday’s tenth place holder, Stephen Bradley, ended in fourth place overall thanks to his double-clear round. Bradley and Dutton were the only two riders to finish with two horses, and all four finished in the top ten. Forty-three horse-and-rider combinations started this year’s event and only 27 finished today’s competition with lots of rails falling and even more rubs.
When asked about what’s next for she and Comet, Becky gleamed, "I am going to take him home and let him go out in the paddock and get as dirty as he possibly can, and he’s really going to enjoy it."
Heather Johnston and Jeannie Blancq Putney
Georgetown College Equine Scholars Program
Georgetown, KY