The fascinating rivalry between Britain’s two top CCI5* horses looks set to continue at Defender Burghley, with Oliver Townend on Cooley Rosalent heading Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo by a mere 0.4 of a penalty on the eve of cross-country day.
Three-time Burghley winner Oliver conjured a beautiful dressage test out of Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s grey mare, a Defender Kentucky heroine and runner-up to Lordships Graffalo at Badminton this spring, to hold a slender advantage at the end of this phase on a score of 22.0.
Ros, with the defending Burghley champion and dual Badminton winner Lordships Graffalo, has a penalty score of 22.4.
Last year’s Burghley runners-up, Tim Price and Vitali, representing New Zealand, are in third place on 23.1 and all three competitors have declared that they are ‘in it to win it’.
Oliver said: “Rosie was a good girl, but sometimes she is more like a racehorse than an event horse. I was a bit caught out by the atmosphere, and she wasn’t as quiet as I would have liked her to be, but we have ended up in the right place.”
Ros was delighted with her charismatic horse who was as popular as ever with the capacity crowd enjoying a sunny day at Burghley.
“I am over the moon – there is always pressure riding Lordships Graffalo,” she said. “I am particularly thrilled with the flying changes, which I missed at Badminton – he now feels very secure in those. I’ve chosen to be here with ‘Walter’ because I am competitive. We take every day as it comes and at the moment it’s all good to go.”
Tim, who won Burghley in 2018 on Ringwood Sky Boy, commented: “We know Vitali is a class dressage horse and that he has all the ingredients for a hot test. From my point of view, rideability was superb, his relaxation lovely and it was just a great partnership on display.
“I am here to win, and I have worked hard to try and get into a position to win, but it’s also just a lovely experience to be at Burghley.”
Another New Zealander, Sam Lissington, is in close contention in fourth place with Lord Seekonig; first-day leaders Piggy March and MCS Maverick are now fifth; Emily King and Valmy Biats are sixth, ahead of German Olympic rider Christoph Wahler (D’Accord), a first-timer at Burghley. Ireland’s Austin O’ Connor with the fabulous jumper Colorado Blue is handily placed in eighth after scoring their best ever dressage mark, 27.8.
Twenty penalties, the cost of a cross-country refusal, covers the entire field.
Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB ready for cross country
Australia’s sole entrant this year, Sammi Birch aboard 15-year-old Finduss PFB, scored 35.7 in the dressage phase to place 34th overall heading into Saturday’s cross country. It was the pair’s equal best CCI5*L dressage score to date, matching their effort at Burghley in 2022. This year’s event marks Sammi and Finduss’ sixth CCI5*L.
The Aussie combination will start their round at 2.46pm local time (11.46pm AEST).
Riders have been assessing Derek di Grazia’s course, which runs in the opposite direction to last year, with the Defender Lion Bridge early at fence 4 and the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit at fence 26, five from home.
“Going the ‘other way’ has been lucky for me before, in 2017 on an inexperienced horse [Ballaghmor Class, the eventual winner],” said Oliver. “It will be interesting, but I don’t think it will be easy.”
The best placed of world number one Harry Meade’s three rides is Cavalier Crystal, 15th on 30.1. He will be first out on course tomorrow, at 11.30am local time, with Et Hop Du Matz.
Full results can be found here.
Source: Defender Burghley Horse Trials press release (edited by EQ Life)
