Doug Payne and Lysander. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Scores in the 40s have been hard to come by in the CCI2* division at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, and only Doug Payne and Lysander have managed to crack that elusive threshold thus far at the lunch break on the first day of dressage here in Elkton, Maryland.
“Big Leo,” an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Holsteiner gelding Doug owns with Kristin Michaloski, is coming off a big win on a score of 34.1 at the Plantation Field CIC2* last month, and he’s well positioned to be sitting high up the leaderboard as we look ahead to these CCI2* horses tackling Derek di Grazia’s cross country course on Saturday.
But we’ve got a long way to go until then, and there’s plenty of room at the top of the leaderboard as we get further into this 75-strong field. Judges Angela Tucker and Mark Weissbecker are definitely looking for excellence today, and Waylon Roberts and Ian Roberts’ Faolan and Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Effervescent are rounding out the current top three on scores of 51.4 and 52.4, respectively.
Waylon Roberts and Faolan. Photo by Jenni Autry.
While the scores have been high in this division so far, it’s not been an easy day out there for the riders. The main ring at Fair Hill always seems to get the horses amped up, and we’ve seen a number of tactfully ridden tests today as riders have worked hard to keep the lid on.
Erin Sylvester and Paddy The Caddy had a consistent, accurate test early this morning to score 52.7, which has them in fourth place currently. Courtney Cooper, who broke her leg in August and is continuing to recover, delivered a relaxed test with her homebred R Star to score 54.4, which is rounding out the top five at the lunch break.
Looking to talented horses that just didn’t have a great day, Tamie Smith’s ride Dempsey, a 7-year-old Dutch gelding owned by the Dempsey Syndicate, was definitely feeling the atmosphere. This horse is a super mover and especially supple laterally; he’s going to be very exciting to watch once he can settle a bit better.
Matt Brown is just home from finishing sixth at the Boekelo CCIO3* in his overseas debut with Super Socks BCF, and he has his new mount Talking Point BCF in the CCI2* here at Fair Hill. Recently acquired from New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell, this 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Blossom Creek Foundation is a full brother to his three-star ride BCF Belicoso. The horse just would have much rather been going cross country today!
Caroline Martin and Effervescent. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Considering how hot the atmosphere proved to be this morning, we saw some very nice tests from full Thoroughbreds. Daisy Trayford warmed up with Karen O’Connor and had a solid performance with Normandy Soldier, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding she owns. Emily Hamel has recently started training with Phillip Dutton, and she also delivered a good test with Katherine O’Brien’s Ramsey, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding.
We’re about to get started back with the final eight horses to go today in the CCI2*. Stay tuned for much more as we wrap up the first half of the division and chat with the leaders. The first part of the CCI3* division will go at 3:05 p.m., starting with Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow. Be sure to check EN’s Instagram for bonus photos!
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