Moon Fleet puts Andrew in reach of the stars

Andrew Hoy and Moon Fleet didn’t disappoint the large crowds anticipating an exciting finish to dressage and went into the lead at the end of the first two days at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. The Australian – Australia has six riders in the top eight – Olympic gold medallist and former Burghley and Badminton winner and Sue Magnier’s Thoroughbred gained a unanimous verdict from the Ground Jury for a mark of 31.7 four penalties ahead of second placed Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia.

A unique result has put two husband and wife teams in the top four. Andrew’s wife Bettina retains third place while Lucinda’s husband Clayton joined his wife in the top four on his British Open winner Nularbor.

Andrew now has two experienced four-star horses in the top six places in his bid to achieve a Rolex Grand Slam – US$250,000 and a Rolex watch to those that can achieve three consecutive four-star wins. “The way I look I see it is that if I don’t win it I haven’t lost the Grand Slam as I never had it in the first place,” said Andrew. “But if I had a wish to be in the golden position at the end of dressage aiming for a Grand Slam then I’ve achieved that.”

Clayton, who two weeks ago became the World individual medallist at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen gained a score of 38.3 with the nine-year-old Nullarbor who he describes as ‘definitely dangerous’. “Once you are off him he bites and kicks. His mother’s name is Lethal Lass so I presume that’s where he gets it from. Nullarbor has spent most of his competitive career in second place so to win The British Open with him especially as he is only nine is fantastic – he is really a horse for the future and hopefully if Gatcombe is any indicator of his talent he will cope here but it is a real four-star test out there.”

American first timer Bonnie Mosser and Jenga was the only other combination to break the 40 mark barrier and hold fifth place going into tomorrow’s cross-country test.

Check the dressage results.