Boyd Martin and Trading Aces. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Entries for the CCI3* at Galway Downs have gone live, and it’s shaping up to be quite a start list packed with veteran campaigners and newcomers to the three-star scene. EN will be covering this event this year, as will PRO with their new streaming service, so we’re quite excited for the first weekend in November to come around.
It’s always interesting to see who decides to make a trek from coast to coast for the big three-stars, and the Galway list contains some travelers of its own. Boyd Martin will be piloting Trading Aces around California soil for the first time.
The 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Trading Aces Syndicate will be coming off of about a month and a half off after last competing in the CIC3* at Plantation Field in September, where he finished in fourth place.
Buck Davidson and Copper Beech. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Also making the trip west is Buck Davidson with Copper Beech, who will be contesting his second CCI3*. Buck won the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh with this horse and commented that he wanted to make sure he took it slow with this talented 8-year-old, and he’s held true to that plan this summer, giving “Sean” some light runs at horse trial levels with one CIC3* at Plantation Field.
The field is full of CCI3* newcomers; seven horses will be starting in their first CCI3*. Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 will be looking for redemption this year after their Galway weekend ended early last year with elimination on cross country.
Jolie Wentworth and Goodknight. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jolie Wentworth is back in the saddle after giving birth to her and husband David’s first daughter in September, and will be taking back the reins aboard Goodknight from young rider Maddy Mazzola, who campaigned the Selle Francais gelding during Jolie’s maternity leave.
Ellen Doughty-Hume will be making the trip from her home base in Texas to compete in California as well. Ellen suffered a minor knee injury that kept her out of Fair Hill this weekend, and she decided to re-route to Galway with Sir Oberon in the hopes that the extra two weeks would give her knee the time it needed to heal properly.
Jen McFall and High Times. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Jen McFall and High Times also highlight the entry list, set to compete in their second CCI3* together. After withdrawing “Billy” from competition at AECs after dressage last month due to heel bruise, Jen set about preparing for Galway and was confident when I spoke with her in Texas that everything would still be a go for competition at the end of October.
Click here to view the full entry list for the CCI3*, as well as the other exciting divisions at the big west coast event. Go Galway!
