Conventional wisdom says that full Thoroughbred horses — once the mainstay of eventing — struggle with the demands of the dressage phase in the modern sport. New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and her Thoroughbred gelding Artist proved that wisdom wrong as they grabbed the top spot at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) to sit in first in the CCI5*-L on a score of 22.3.
She doesn’t have much cushion though, as fellow Kiwi Tim Price sits less than a point behind in second aboard Vitali (22.6), Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality from Great Britain are hovering in third (25.1). The highest-placed American and leader of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian is Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, her Pan Am Games winner, who sits fourth with a score of 26.6. Thursday’s dressage leaders Will Coleman and Diabolo sit 5th (27.3).
“‘Max’ was super today and gave me good energy in the test,” Spencer said of her long-time partner. “I’m really pleased with him.”
Spencer has owned and ridden “Max,” a 15-year-old bay gelding by Guillotine, since he was a four-year-old and their bond is clear. His test was highlighted by its smooth flow and intense focus, and just a touch of natural flamboyance. Spencer feels the work on their dressage has all been worth it because of the natural advantages a Thoroughbred brings to the second phase of competition, the cross-country.
“On cross country, it’s always nice to be on a fast horse,” she said. “But in the dressage, I’m very lucky with Max. He’s a beautiful mover and he’s always been very trainable, I quite enjoy riding him the dressage.
“I’ve had a few Thoroughbreds over the years that have been quite good at dressage, but he’s quite an expressive horse for a Thoroughbred. He likes to throw his front legs around and he did that today,” she finished with a laugh.
Price has a veteran campaigner in Vitali, and while he’s had lots of good finishes, including in Kentucky, that big win has eluded him.
“It’s not his first rodeo,” Price said of his and Joseph and Alexander Giannamore’s Holsteiner gelding. “He’s a good dressage horse but not usually in the spring; he doesn’t always do his best work, but we still managed to keep on track with a good test.
“I’ve had him 6 or 7 years and I’ve been through a lot with him. A lot of disappointments in terms of final results, but he’s an incredible horse in so many ways,” he continued. “I didn’t get him as a young horse, so it took a couple of years to form a good partnership with him. It was a matter of tinkering away to try to find something help us be truly successful at this level. I hope it happens one day, preferably sometime soon.”
McEwen is no stranger to the Kentucky Horse Park, including finishing second here in 2023 and 2024 on a different mount, JL Dublin. He was exceptionally pleased with John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swindburn’s Irish Sport Horse gelding today. “I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “Norris did the test he does every time and laid everything down. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Australian results
Ema Klugman and Chiraz completed their CCI5*L test on Friday and are placed 22nd on a score of 36.7.
Sophia Hill and Humble Glory, who completed their dressage test on Thursday, are in =23rd position on a score of 37.1.
Ema also has RF Redfern entered in the CCI4*S. Completing their test on Friday, the duo scored 32.1 and are well placed in tenth from 44 combinations.
The CCI4*S begins at 9.30am local time Saturday (11.30pm AEST Saturday), while the CCI5*L starts at 1.30pm local time (3.30am AEST Sunday).
You can watch every moment of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian live for free on the USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV.
Focus on cross country
With the first of three phases complete, riders’ attention now turns to the cross-country phase, where they and their horses will be tested by course designer Derek di Grazia’s 28-obstacle test.
“It’s a proper CCI5*L,” Price said. “There’s nothing non-CCI5*L about it. The demands are right through the course. Derek is very clever at putting the right questions at the right place. Walking it gives me a little feeling of nerves and excitement, but it’s to be respected. It’s a long way around.”
“There are tough combinations the whole way and there’ll be problems everywhere, which is a sign of good course design,” Spencer agreed. “As usual with Derek, all the jumps are there to be jumped, but it’s easy to have a problem anywhere on course.”
“I completely agree,” said McEwen. “You are going to see some pairs through the combination make it look hard and others make look like nothing. It walks and feels like a proper 5-star form start to finish, and it makes me excited to go out and try it.”
Danito stays on top in the CCI4*-S, but margin narrows
Tamie Smith held on to her overnight lead with Ruth Bley’s Danito after the second day of dressage, keeping her top spot with a score of 27.0. Smith has three horses in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, and she also sits tied for 3rd with Molly Duda’s Lillet 3, and in 13th aboard Kynan Syndicate’s Kynan.
But after the second day of dressage, her margin narrowed with Pan Am silver medalist Sharon White sliding into second on her own Claus 63 (28.1) and Great Britain’s Elizabeth Barratt with Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau standing tied for 3rd (29.7) with Smith and Lillet 3.
“I was really thrilled with Claus today,” White said. “He was relaxed and mature and well within himself. We’ve been working on that our whole partnership, and at 14 years young, he’s really coming into his own.
“I’m super excited about the rest of weekend,” she continued. “The track looks amazing — like always here.”
White and the Holsteiner gelding have competed here previously in the 5*, but she’s aiming to add to his confidence and experience this weekend.
“The (CCI4*S) here is certainly one of the hardest in the world, and that’s because of the atmosphere,” she said. “It’s Kentucky, there are so many people here, and that is so good for horses’ learning before championships. The crowd is a big reason it makes it harder than anything else. Personally, I’ve brought him here before, he’s done the 5* here and I’ve made a conscious decision to do the (4*-short). He’s had a bit of loss of form, and this is what’s best for him and for me to get him back.”
Sharon White and Claus 63 put in a powerful test to score 28.1 to stand in second place at the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Horse Park. AK Dragoo Photography Photo
Barratt is here as part of a program from the British federation called “Rising Lions” for riders under the age of 25 at the CCI4* level. She’s been partnered with the grey Selle Francais gelding for just over a year, and is loving her first trip to the U.S. and the horse park.
“I was really pleased with my horse this morning,” Barratt said. “He wants to rise to occasion and he loves a crowd. This was our best test as a combination. He was listening and forward, we had a great ride together.
“It’s my first time in the U.S. and at the horse park, and it’s an incredible place,” she added. “We’ve had an amazing time so far, the course looks amazing and we’ve felt so welcomed. It’s a great feeling and I’m excited to be here.”
The event continues with the heart of the sport, the cross country on Saturday and the weekend will finish up with the show jumping phase on Sunday.
Full results from Kentucky Three-Day Event can be found here.
You can watch every moment of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian live for free on the USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV.
Source: Event press release, edited by Equestrian Life
