Little records best score at Kentucky Three-Day Event since 2009 Thursday, 22 April 2021
Marilyn Little recorded the best score at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 12 years on the opening day in Lexington in the United States.
The American rider, on board RF Scandalous, earned 21.7 points to top the scoreboard ahead of British duo Oliver Townend and William Fox-Pitt in the dressage leg of the five-star competition.
The impressive points tally was the best since 2009 when Germany s Bettina Hoy, riding Ringwood Cockatoo, scored a 19.2 and Britain s Lucinda Fredericks, on board Headley Britannia, earned a 21.5. It’s great to be back here in Kentucky, said Little.
The Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times have been released ahead of the second phase of the competition tomorrow (Saturday, 24 April).
New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is the pathfinder for the five-star and will start at 8.30am (1.30pm British time) on Grappa Nera, the first of her three rides. Jonelle will also be on course at 10.18pm (3.18pm British time) on 2018 Badminton Horse Trials winner Classic Moet and 12.18pm (5.18pm British time) on Grovine De Reve).
Thursday’s dressage leader, RF Scandalous ridden by Marilyn Little, will head out on course at 9.58pm (2.58pm British time).
Last year’s winners, Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class, set off at 10.26pm (3.26pm British time), while Oliver’s other ride Ballaghmor Class will leave the start box at 12.26pm (5.26pm British time), according to the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times list.
The five-star dressage kicks off at 12.23pm local time today (5.23pm British time) when Jonelle Price and the first of her three rides, Grappa Nera, enter the arena.
The New Zealander will be followed by the first home side rider, Will Coleman on Dondante at 12.31pm (5.31pm British time).
The final test today will be much-anticipated as 2018 and 2019 Kentucky winners Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class will perform at 4.53pm (9.53pm British time).
The 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet, ridden by Jonelle Price, is also in the final tranche of horses on Thursday, at 4.37pm (9.37pm British time).
Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage times Friday
US rider Boyd Martin will start as one of the favourites at next week’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (22-25 April) on Tsetserleg TSF, who was the runner-up at the event in 2019.
There’s no doubt Tsetserleg – who is named after a town in Mongolia and is known as Thomas at home – is now one of the best event horses in the world, but Boyd didn’t immediately pick him out as a star when he first saw him.
“When I first came to America [from Australia], I did a clinic down in Waco, Texas, and there was a four-year-old 15.3h black little horse with a South African rider. I remember the horse just because his sire was Windfall, who I knew well from Darren Chiacchia riding him around the Olympic Games, so it caught my eye,” remembers Boyd in an interview on episode 46 of The
Oliver Townend has chosen his two rides for next week’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (22-25 April) and will line up on Cooley Master Class and Ballaghmor Class.
The double Kentucky winner also had Tregilder entered, but the two more experienced horses boarded the plane yesterday (14 April) and have now landed in the US.
Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class will start as number 34. The European team silver medallist is aiming for a third Kentucky title, having won the past two runnings in 2018 and 2019.
Ballaghmor Class – who belongs to Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan – makes his Kentucky debut. He has exceptional form at the British five-stars, having won Burghley Horse Trials on his debut at the level in 2017 and finished in the top five on all four of his subsequent five-star runs. He will compete as number 68.