Kiwi eventer Tim Price and Wesko have delivered their best-ever dressage
score to sit at the front of the field this morning at the Rolex
Kentucky Three Day Event in the United States.
The two are on début at the top-ranked four star event, and share the
36.3 penalty point lead with Olympic, World and two-time European champ
Michael Jung (GER) aboard La Biosthetique – Sam FBW after a super
smooth test.
Price is delighted.
“I knew he had it in him,” he said of the big warmblood, on whom he
won the four star rated Luhmuhlen (GER) last year. “I know he is that
good, but to do it in the ring is what we have been trying to achieve. I
am just elated with him really, he is such a cool horse.”
Price had every belief in the horse going into the event. It was a
star-studded 75-strong field, that has attracted many big names, as
combinations from Europe test run travel for horses in the lead-up to
the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Wesko has all the potential in the world and it does take a long time
to convert that to a good performance in the ring. It is great to
actually achieve it today,” said Price.
He is looking forward to tomorrow’s cross country, despite a weather
warning, and believes the course will suit him.
“At the end of the day, that is what he and I love to do the most . .
. jump jumps and gallop around.”
Rain is forecast overnight and through cross country day, and that will
play a big part in deciding just who will lead the field at the end of
tomorrow. It is being described as an “interesting course that is
tough from the get-go”.
Jung, who also sits in fourth place aboard Fischerrocana FST, is
confident his horses will handle the going, and particularly Sam.
“Sam is tough and has a lot of experience,” he said. “He will be
good.”
Reigning Kentucky champ William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is in third on Bay My
Hero. Competition is very tight, with less than nine points covering the
top 10.
New Zealand’s only other entry, Emily Cammock and her own Dambala, sit
in 38th position on 56.7.
There were huge crowds watching the dressage today, with more than
13,000 in the stands, nearly double the turn-out on the opening day of
competition.
The Rolex this year incorporates the USEF National Four Star
Championships.
For more information, head to http://rk3de.org/ .
Results (after dressage):
Tim Price (NZL) Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko
Syndicate) and Michael Jung (GER) La Biosthetique – Sam FBW 36.3 =1,
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Bay My Hero 38.5 3, Michael Jung (GER)
Fischerrocana FST 39.3 4, Colleen Rutledge (USA) Covert6 Rights 42.3 5,
Mackenna Shea (USA) Landioso 43.7 6, Laine Ashker (USA) Anthony Patch
44.2 7, Lauren Kieffer (USA) Veronica 44.3 8, Marilyn Little (USA) RF
Demeter 44.6 9, Jessica Phoenix (CAN) Pavarotti 45 10, Emily Cammock
(NZL) Dambala 56.7 38.
