Michael Pollard leads the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day
Michael Pollard (USA) riding Mensa G, today Thursday 24 April 2014, is the current leader after Day One of the Dressage phase, with Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow in 2nd place, and Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman in 3rd place at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington.
Results after Dressage Day 1
1. Michael Pollard/Mensa G (USA) 49.5
2. Will Faudree/Pawlow (USA) 49.8
3. Doug Payne/Crown Talisman (USA) 51.2
4. Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 51.3
5. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie TSF (GBR) 51.5
6. Sinead Halpin/Manoir De Carneville (USA) 51.7
7. Emily Beshear/Here’s To You (USA) 52.2
8. Phillip Dutton/Trading Aces (USA) 52.5
9. Sarah Bullimore/Reve Du Rouet (GBR) 52.7
10. Bruce (Buck) Davidson Jr/Petite Flower (USA) 54.2
Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Current Contender
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) has travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park as the new Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing ‘live contender’ and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event defending champion. This follows the news announced on 23 April 2014 that last year’s winner of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Jonathan Paget (NZL), has officially been disqualified following a “partial decision” by the sport’s governing body Tribunal. As a result of Paget’s disqualification Andrew Nicholson and Avebury have now been promoted and are the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2013 winners.
All eyes are now on Nicholson to see if he can repeat the form he demonstrated in 2013, by winning the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will put him one competition away from the coveted USD$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize. Nicholson is competing in Kentucky on his grey gelding Avebury.
Quotes from Michael Pollard (USA) (link to audio of full post-event press conference below):
Q. Michael – tell us about today?
I just wanted to have a good start. I’m sure that tomorrow there will be some great combinations and I’m probably not likely to stay in the lead but at least it’s a competitive start.
Q. Michael – at this moment feeling good about Saturday?
It’s a four star, so it’s going to be hard for everybody but I’m riding a very good horse and I’m feeling good about my preparations and so it’s just about treating it like another event and doing my best.
Quotes from Doug Payne (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):
Q. Doug – so you won’t be back here on Saturday, can you tell everyone why?
Unfortunately not, I hope and pray that ultimately I will be back here again in years to come. I have to first thank my owners and Land Rover for my grant as without them I would not be here. Being that I was entered here at Rolex I think it was especially for this horse who is a little bit more excitable and potentially could be affected by atmosphere there is no better place to go and compete than here to see how we measure up, and ultimately I know for sure that he [Crown Talisman] will be better off for today’s competition. A long story short, we are going to withdraw and go to Jersey fresh in the three star there and then Saumur for the three star there.
Quotes from Will Faudree (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):
Q. Will – how was your test?
He is a very experienced horse and has been at this level or a while now. All in all he stayed very rideable throughout the test and overall I was happy with him.