Jessica Phoenix and Humble GS. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
It’s been a busy day at Virginia Horse Trials, where more than 500 horses are competing during what has been a picture-perfect weekend so far in Lexington — sunny skies, unseasonably warm temperatures and hardly a cloud in the sky.
All eyes are on the inaugural CCI2* division, which Jessica Phoenix and Humble GS lead after the first phase of competition. The 10-year-old Trakehner/Canadian Sport Horse stallion owned by Charlotte Schickedanz scored a 51.4 to set the early bar and ultimately hold the lead overnight.
Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Cruise Control scored 51.8 to sit in second place, just 0.4 penalties out of the lead. Ariel Grald and Monbeg Nola and Kelly Beaver and Sempre Fino are tied for third place on 52.3.
The CIC* and CIC2* divisions completed both dressage and show jumping today. Mara DePuy and Congo Brazzaville C led the division of 38 starters after dressage on a score of 46.4, but one rail down in show jumping dropped them to fourth place at the end of the day.
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Revelation. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
That opened the door for Phillip Dutton to move into first place with Fernhill Revelation, who jumped double clear to move into first place on his dressage score of 47.9. “Warren,” a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Revelation Group, is a newer rider for Phillip, having come to the U.S. this fall as a former three-star ride of Irish rider Fraser Duffy.
“He was a little bit tense in the dressage, so he left a few points there, but he couldn’t have show jumped any better,” Phillip said. “He arrived from Ireland a bit late in the season to get ready for Fair Hill, so instead our idea was to do horse trials with him and then the CIC2* here at Virginia. He’ll stay in work through the winter and in February of next year he should be ready to hit the ground running.”
Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream moved from fourth to second in the CIC2*, sitting on their dressage score of 47.9 after jumping a clear round inside the time. Phillip also jumped a clear round with David Garrett’s Corazon to move from fifth to third place on 49.7.
Fast and clear rounds were scarce in the CIC2*, with only six horse and rider combinations finishing Chris Barnard’s course clear and inside the time. In addition to Phillip and Hannah’s rides, just three other pairs delivered double clears: Boyd Martin and Kyra (11th), Alexandra MacLeod and Newmarket Jack (17th), and Tim Bourke and LVS Dassett Charisma (18th).
Cornelia Dorr and Louis M. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
Looking to the CCI*, Kim Severson and Ringford Fighting Chance lead the A division on 40.6, with Lucia Strini and MTF Cooley Classic in second on 41.8 and Ryan Wood and Shannondale Percy in second on 42.5.
Cornelia Dorr and Louis M lead the CCI* B division on 40.2, the best score between the two divisions. Olivia Grabaskas and Mansfield Park sit second on 43.5, with Amanda Beale Clement and Celtic Heritage rounding out the top three on 45.0.
Preliminary and Intermediate kicked off the 2016 Area II Championships today. Rachel Wilks leads the Open Preliminary Championships with Great Expectations, scoring 27.4 to take the narrow lead over Erin Sylvester and Mister Optimistic.
“He’s quite fun on the flat and makes my job easy,” Rachel said. “He did a few Prelims in England, and I’ve just been getting to know him. I’m bringing him along with my other horse (River King) and enjoying it.”
Rachel is hoping to aim for a one-star with Great Expectations in the spring but feels in no rush to move him up. “He’s a nice horse and I want to give him the best opportunities to go well,” she said. “We will see how cross country goes tomorrow. If I give him a good, confident ride and ride him well he should go well. It looks like it will be a good course.”
The Beginner Novice, Novice and Training Championships begin tomorrow, and cross country will run on both sides of the road on what is sure to be an action-packed day. Be sure to follow Virginia Horse Trials on Facebook for photos and updates throughout the event. Go Eventing!
[Jessica Phoenix, Phillip Dutton Take Two-Star Leads at Virginia Horse Trials CCI/CIC and HT]
Virginia CCI/CIC & H.T. Links: Website, Entry Status, Live Scores
