Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip Dutton jumped clear show jumping rounds with both Fernhill Cubalawn and Fernhill Fugitive, meaning Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch couldn’t afford a single rail if they wanted to defend their title as the Millbrook Advanced champions. As the last to jump in the division, Laine and Al put in a beautiful clear trip to clinch the win in the PRO Tour and Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division on 31.4.
Phillip, Buck Davidson and Boyd Martin all finished with two of their three rides inside the top 10, with Big Phil taking second and third places with Fernhill Cubalawn and Fernhill Fugitive, respectively, on scores of 32.8 and 33.8, followed by Buck Davidson with Copper Beech, who had one rail down, and The Apprentice, who jumped clear with one time penalty, to finish in fourth and fifth places on scores of 37.8 and 39.9.
Buck Davidson and Copper Beech. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Sharon White, who rode today with a heavy heart after the unexpected passing of her longtime owner Sheri Weber yesterday, jumped clear with two time penalties on Under Suspection to finish sixth on 43.4, followed by Boyd and Master Frisky in seventh on 44.9 and Steady Eddie in eighth on 45.3. Both Master Frisky and Steady Eddie had a rail down.
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights jumped clear with six time penalties to finish ninth on 45.6 in the horse’s return to the Advanced level after an extended break — a great finish on their way to accomplishing the goal of contesting the Fair Hill CCI3* this fall. And EN’s own Kate Samuels and Nyls du Terroir jumped a lovely clear round with one time penalty to finish 10th on 46.9, moving all the way up from 23rd after dressage.
Boyd Martin and Master Frisky. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Rails fell throughout the course, though the natural oxer at fence 3, which faced the crowded patron’s tent, and the purple vertical at fence 4, which faced the big crowd of spectators, claimed the most victims. In all, just six pairs jumped clear rounds and made the time. Phillip accomplished that feat on all three of his horses — Fernhill Cubalawn, Fernhill Fugitive and Atlas — as did Laine and Anthony Patch, Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace, and Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe.
It’s been a wonderful weekend at Millbrook Horse Trials, and I have much more to bring you from the day’s festivities, including photos of the $1,000 PRO Four Bar, which Ryan Wood ultimately won aboard Storm Warning, and video of Silva Martin presenting the Charles Owen Equestrian Memorial Award to Courtney King-Dye, which was an incredibly emotional and touching moment. Please join me in thanking the organizers and volunteers for facilitating such a fantastic event. Go Millbrook.
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Watch PRO’s interview with Laine Ashker after show jumping:
