Ros Canter in the driving seat
Olympic gold medallist Ros Canter has taken a commanding lead after the first day of dressage at Defender Burghley. The world number two scored the outstanding mark of 19.9, which represents her best score at CCI5* level, on Alex Moody's 11-year-old Izilot DHI.
Dual Defender Burghley winner Pippa Funnell, the most experienced rider in the field, is currently in second place on MCS Maverick with a mark of 28.3, just 0.3 penalties ahead of the 2022 runners-up Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift.
The Swiss Olympian Felix Vogg is fourth and best of the 21 Defender Burghley first-timers on Cartania (28.8) and Max Warburton was delighted to find himself the highest-placed British debutant in fifth on a mark of 28.9 on Deerpairc Revelry.
The seasoned New Zealand rider Tim Price, who won in 2018, is sixth on Viscount Viktor (29.5) and Harry Meade is in seventh and eighth places on two out of his three rides, the mare Cavalier Crystal, third last year, and Superstition, back after a break.
“I’m over the moon," said Ros of her 2023 Blenheim and Pau winner. "Since Luhmühlen (in June) I've been practising having Izilot in self-carriage. I’ve tended to play safe with him in the past because he can be sharp and spooky, and now I want to show off his ability and movement and let him dance.”
Can she go even better tomorrow on Lordships Graffalo, her Paris ride and 2023 Badminton and European champion? "I'd like to think he wouldn't be a million miles off but, because he now has a lot of experience, time management in the atmosphere is key with him," said Ros.
MCS Maverick was a new ride for Pippa Funnell last year when they were popular winners of Bramham. The 11-year-old bay gelding is, she says, one of the best horses she has had on the flat - at home. However, he takes a bit of managing when in the electric atmosphere of a major horse trials.
“You really have to do the breathing for him in the arena, but it is all going in the right direction,” she said.
The FEI CCI5* dressage test, C, is a new experience for some riders this year, including Tom Jackson.
“It felt a bit different and wasn’t as symmetrical as some I have been used to,” he observed, “but I think Capels Hollow Drift’s performance was as good as in other tests and I just hope we have done enough to be in the mix.”
Thirty-three combinations have been before the ground jury – Sweden’s Christina Klingspor (president) and Robert Stevenson (USA), both of whom officiated at the Olympics, and Britain’s Nick Burton - and there are some stellar names to look forward to tomorrow among the remaining 33.
The action starts at 9.30am with Emily King and Valmy Biats, the fourth-placed pair at Badminton, into the arena.
Other keenly anticipated tests are those of Olympic gold medallist and world number one Tom McEwen with DHI Cooliser, Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, Defender Kentucky winners Oliver Townend and the grey mare Cooley Rosalent, France’s Nicolas Touzaint (Absolut Gold HDC) and Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima (Feroza Nieuwmoed), members of the Olympic silver and bronze medal teams respectively, plus Pippa Funnell, Ros Canter and Tim Price with their second rides.
Defender Burghley is the established highlight of the summer social season. As well as top-class sport featuring both the most famous horses and riders in the world and up-and-coming stars, in the beautiful and historic setting of Burghley Park, the event offers superb shopping opportunities, delicious food and drink, elegant hospitality options and lots to entertain children and less-horsey members of the family.
Every minute of the action from Defender Burghley is shown live on Burghley TV: visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk/burghley-tv.
To find out more about Defender Burghley (5-8 September 2024) and to purchase tickets and hospitality, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.