Michael Jung and Sam will show jump for the win today at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Good morning, EN readers! Today is the final day of Badminton, weirdly on a Monday, and today will determine whether Michael Jung crushes the $350 k dreams of WFP and Andrew Nicholson, or whether everyone drops rails and an American takes the prize (highly unlikely, but we can always hope!). Over in the U.S., the eventing community is gearing up for the Jersey Fresh CCI 3* this weekend, with many top riders being involved in both the CIC 3* and CCI 3* divisions. Good luck to our North American contingent on Badminton SJ day and good luck to competitors at one of our top North American events, Jersey Fresh, this weekend!
Weekend Results:
Badminton Final Inspection, SJ Live Scores
Heart of the Carolinas 3-day Event
Weatherford and Greenwood Farm CIC2*, CIC1*, HT
Events Opening this Week:
Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. I (California, A-6) Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. CIC1* and CCI1* (Illinois, A-4) Great Vista Horse Trials (New York, A-1) Encore H.T. (Michigan, A-8) Surefire H.T. (Virginia, A-2) Abbe Ranch H.T. (Colorado, A-9)Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Kentucky, A-8)
Monday News:
Michael Jung holds onto his dressage lead after cross-country at Badminton with his WEG and Olympic partner La Biosthetique Sam FBW. Jock Paget moved up from fourth to second, as Stefano Breccairoli (2nd after dressage) had time penalties, and Dirk Schrade (3rd after dressage) retired on course. Michael and Sam have less than a rail over Jock, and exactly a rail over third placed William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk. If Michael and Sam drop a rail, and Jonathan Paget has one as well, William will win as his XC time was closest to the optimum. [Badminton Results]
The battle between WFP and Andrew Nicholson continues; after cross-country William retained his .2 lead over Andrew and Nereo. While the rivalry may be null and void if Michael keeps his lead, or Jonathan Paget takes it over, it’s still exciting seeing who might walk away with a fat check this weekend. I know who I’m rooting for; I won’t give it away but I will say he is riding a horse that rhymes with ‘Smarklane Mawk.’ If WFP and Parklane Hawk win, he will be the first horse to win all three Grand Slam events. [Badminton XC from H&H]
Every single North American rider that started Badminton on Friday is still in contention on show jumping day. Tiana Coudray leads the pack with Ringwood Magister; they put in a stellar dressage test and an even better cross-country round to start their Monday in tenth. Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master added just .8 time penalties to their cross-country score to move up 10 spots to 22nd. Clark Montgomery might have hoped to have had a better dressage score, but there’s no way he can be unhappy about his cross-country round on Universe; the pair jumped beautifully around the course to add just six time penalties. Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz continue their record-breaking quest to become the first horse and rider pair to complete all five 4* with a clean jumping round as well. [EN XC Report]
Check back with Eventing Nation early tomorrow for the Final Horse Inspection from Badminton. The inspection starts at 8:30 a.m. (3:30 ET), with Show Jumping beginning at 11:00 (6:00 ET), and the top 20 to jump at 1:30 (8:30 ET). Having been to Badminton twice, my favorite part of the SJ (besides the jumping itself) was the parade of the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds. Picture a full hunting party with hounds in the main arena at Badminton and you’ll see why it’s so great. [Badminton Timetable]
Orb won the Kentucky Derby yesterday on a sloppy track, on a miserable rainy day. The colt, trained by Lexington native, and veteran trainer Sug McGaughey, came from behind to win by a convincing three lengths. Orb was the co-favorite coming into race day, and didn’t disappoint. While he wasn’t my pick to win (I never pick the right ones), the win gives me hope of finally seeing a Triple Crown winner. This is a great colt, that’s been brought along by the right people, and with a little luck, he could go all the way. [NY Times]
Whoever this lady is, she’s amazing.
Surely a contender for the front cover of @horseandhound? #HHTEAMWILLIAM #mmbht twitpic.com/cohp1s
— Dragonfly Saddlery (@Dragonfly_Laura) May 5, 2013
Video: Michael Jung and Sam’s XC round from Sunday
