By the Numbers: Red Hills CCI4*-S

By on Mar 11, 2021 12:30 pm -

It’s a bit surreal to sit here and type this, as Red Hills was the final event in 2020 where things were still “normal”. A scant 10 days later, things shut down all over the world and with it a proper event season. This year we balance carefully the need to keep functioning and the reality that the virus is not yet gone, so our thanks to all the dedicated show organizers who have gone above and beyond in figuring out a way to run these valuable prep events while balancing finances without spectators.

As the first 4* start of the year for North America, Red Hills provides a true test with a notoriously tight cross-country track. Mike Etherington-Smith enters his sixth year as course designer for the venue, long enough to have established his stamp on the track. Chris Barnard also returns this year to design the stadium courses.

While time is a factor here, the dressage is equally important at this venue; the winner of the CCI4*-S division has been no worse than second after the dressage phase for the last six consecutive years. With a handful of strong dressage performers here this weekend, this is unlikely to be the year that streak is broken. In particular, keep an eye on Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, who won this division back in 2018.

DRESSAGE

Regardless of whether she goes first or last in the order of go, Marilyn Little and her longtime partner RF Scandalous are about as close as it gets as a sure thing to lead the dressage after day one. They’ve led the field after the first phase in their last ten consecutive A/4*/5* starts dating back to this very venue in 2018, averaging a jaw-dropping 21.9 penalties over the 2020/2021 seasons.

Tamie Smith and EnVogue. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Battling it out for second position will be the mother and daughter pair of Tamie Smith and Kaylawna Cook mounted on EnVogue and Passepartout respectively. Tamie may have made waves by taking second place at the Galway Downs 4*-L on Passepartout last fall, but Kaylawna had a strong record herself with the horse last year before taking the fall off for maternity leave. In three Advanced starts, this pair averaged a mere 27.6 penalties and broke the 75% barrier on one occasion. Meanwhile Tamie kept the heat up with EnVogue, scoring above 70% in six of the mare’s seven starts at A/4* level.
Although their experience is thin, Colleen Loach has a pair of promising horses to keep an eye on; both Vermont and FE Golden Eye have broken the 70% mark in one of their two career A/4* starts. Another FE horse could also make his mark on the leaderboard, with Clayton Fredericks bringing FE Coldplay back out for a second crack at the level after scoring a 26.6 in his first 4* start at Great Meadow last summer.

SHOW JUMPING

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Lisa Madren.

After phase two, we are unlikely to see our leader change hands. RF Scandalous often competes with Marilyn Little in the jumpers and it shows; the pair has only had two rails in 17 rounds at the A/4/5* level. Colleen Loach‘s pair of Vermont and FE Golden Eye are also clear in two for two stadium rounds at the level, while FE Coldplay incurred one rail with Clayton Fredericks at Great Meadow. Similar performances from these young horses would scramble but leave most of the top five intact.

Passepartout has incurred only two rails in his career in five rounds at this level, but under Kaylawna Cook, he has jumped two clear rounds out of three. A single rail would likely help this young rider maintain a spot on the leaderboard. However, we may see EnVogue take a bit of a tumble, with stadium as her weakest phase; despite a strong ride from Tamie Smith, this mare has had two rails down in five of her seven rounds at the A/4* levels.

Keep a sharp eye on Colleen Loach‘s experienced horse Qorry Blue d’Argouges, as well as her fellow Canadian Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes. Along with Kim Cecere with Landmark’s Monaco, these pairs all have the ability to score sub-35 and follow it up with a likely clear stadium round; doing so will put these pairs all within striking distance to make a big move on cross-country day.

CROSS COUNTRY

RF Scandalous is not known for her pace across the country and Marilyn Little will need to work hard if she intends to maintain her placing at the top of the leaderboard. This mare’s performance in the first two phases to provide a good bit of buffer to allow for some time penalties but too many will open the door for a quicker pair.

Tamie Smith and En Vogue. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

That pair could very well come in the form of Tamie Smith and EnVogue, who will have put their weak phase of stadium behind them and be ready to capitalize on the mare’s blinding pace across the country. In five clear A/4* cross country rounds, EnVogue has been the fastest time of the field in four of them, a remarkable feat that few can match. Although the East Coast turf paired with the twisty track will be a first for the mare, Tamie is always a competitive force.
FE Golden Eye will likely fall well down the order in this phase and with FE Coldplay retiring due to fitness in his only start at the level, he is likely to accrue substantial time penalties that will knock him out of a top placing.
In the meantime, Kim Cecere will use Landmark’s Monaco’s blazing pace across the country to get within competitive eyeshot on the leaders; these two tend to either make the time or set the pace at this level and format. If the time is hard enough to get, this will be a real advantage to them and could allow them to compete for the pole position at the end of the weekend.
Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes will also be using their prowess in the stadium phase to get within eyeshot of the leaders. On cross country day, their average pace would put them in single digit time penalties, allowing them to climb up into a top five finish if things go their way. Fellow Canadian Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges will be in a similar situation, but with slightly less turn of foot while Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo will be nipping at their heels.

PREDICTIONS:

WINNER

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Despite RF Scandalous‘ weakness on cross country pace, her dressage abilities are strong enough that it’s likely she’ll be able to hold onto the win at the end of the day. She’ll have about 20 to 25 seconds to spot to her nearest competitor; based on the recent history of the track at Red Hills, that is probably sufficient to maintain the lead.

FASTEST CROSS-COUNTRY ROUNDS

Kimmy Cecere and Landmark’s Monaco. Photo by Abby Powell.

As mentioned above, Landmark’s Monaco has blazing speed in this phase; in his three clear A/4*S rounds under Kim Cecere, he has either made the time or set the pace for the day.

NEW TO THE LEVEL

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Abby Powell.

Colleen Loach has a pair of young horses at the level, and Vermont is the one to keep an eye on this weekend. In two A/4* starts, this horse as averaged sub-thirty on the flat, put in two clear jumping rounds, and averaged less than 30 seconds for their cross-country speed rating.

EXTENDING CLEAR JUMPING STREAKS

Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Fernhill Wishes and Karl Slezak currently own the longest clear stadium streak in the field. These two have put in seven consecutive clear stadium rounds, including two at the 4*-L level. The last time they incurred a rail was in September of 2018.

BIGGEST MOVER

Joe Meyer and Clip Clop. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The experienced Clip Clop is a bit too aware of what is coming on subsequent days to put in a relaxed test on day one, but under the tutelage of Joe Meyer, he’s become quite reliable in the jumping phases. In his return to the level in 2020 after a 2019 hiatus, he’s had only one rail in three A/4*S rounds and has averaged a speed rating of less than 20 seconds off the pace. A similar move will shoot him up the ranks to put this pair within the top ten on the final day.

OTHER DIVISIONS

  • The Advanced division of course sports a plethora of stellar horses to watch, including a trio from Jennie Brannigan, Kurt Martin‘s ride DeLux Z who returns to the level after a long hiatus,
  • Former 5* horses OBOS O’Reilly, Fly Me Courageous, Cisko A are all getting to stretch their legs in the CCI2*-S with young riders.
  • Former 4* mare Catalina is entered in the Prelim division as well.

Dressage takes place on Friday. Keep your eyes locked here for all of our coverage!

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