Day 1 at Tryon: Marilyn Little Leads The Fork CIC3*/WEG Test Event

By on Apr 5, 2018 1:14 pm -

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous lead The Fork CIC3*/World Equestrian Games Test Event at Tryon International Equestrian Center on 24.2 following the first day of dressage here in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Their score of 24.2 (which translates to 36.3 under the old scoring) is a personal best for this pair at three-star level.

“Kitty,” a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold X Richardia, by Lario), owned by Jacqueline Mars and Phoebe and Michael Manders, is the defending winner of The Fork CIC3* and also coming off a win in the CIC3* at Red Hills last month.

The Fork is serving as the mare’s final prep run before going on to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, formerly known as “Rolex.” Marilyn said she was extremely pleased with their performance in the George Morris Arena today, citing the canter work and flying changes as highlights.

“I was really thrilled with how she was today given that she’s incredibly fit right now,” Marilyn said. “My plan was to get her as fit as I could by this time and then be able to back off with her a little in April to be able to fine-tune some things before Rolex. She is coming into the event right where I would like her to be by the last week of this month.”

We have two members of the 2018 World Equestrian Games ground jury presiding over the CIC3* at the test event in Andrew Bennie (NZL) and Jane Hamlin (USA). The third member of the WEG ground jury, Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), will be joining them come the real deal in September.

“Everyone has been very sensitive to the fact that the next time the horses come into the ring will be for the Worlds,” Marilyn said. “You saw that reflected in the amount of time they gave us around the arena before they started the tests. I thought that was very kind and let the horses truly settle.”

Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready, a 14-year-old KWPN (Lupicor X Jarda, by Elcaro) owned by John and Kristine Norton, delivered a personal best of 26.4 (39.6 under the former scoring) to sit in second place on 26.4. “Jackson” is aiming for a return trip to Kentucky CCI4*, where he finished 10th in his debut at the level last year.

Jordan Linstedt and Barbara Linstedt’s Revitavet Capato, a 15-year-old Hanoverian (Contendro I X Annabelle, by Amoroso) also bound for Kentucky, sit third on 26.7 (40.1 under former scoring and a personal best at the level).

Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Jessica Phoenix leads the way for Canada in fourth place on 27.2 (40.8 under former scoring) with Don Good’s Pavarotti, a 16-year-old Westphalian (Pavarotti Van de Helle X Fidelia, by Foxiland).

Phillip Dutton has his second ride sitting inside the top five in Fernhill Cubalawn, who scored 28.2 in his highly anticipated return to the level. “Cuba,” a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Con Capitol X Corse Lawn, by Arkan) owned by Tom Tierney, Simon Roosevelt and Caroline Moran, was meant to be Phillip’s Olympic mount for Rio before being sidelined by injury.

The cheeky little gelding is now poised to return to the CCI4* level at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next month thanks to a Land Rover/USEF competition grant. (Speaking of Badminton, it would be grand if Mother Nature could stop dumping buckets of water on the UK.)

In looking to overall scoring for the first day of dressage in the CIC3*, the ground jury marked -1.99 points below the average expected scores at the level for these combinations. Click here to view full scores for the CIC3*.

There are 37 total pairs competing in The Fork CIC3*/WEG Test Event. We saw 19 pairs in dressage on the first day, and the remaining 18 will go tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. EST/3 p.m. BST. Click here for details on how to watch the live stream.

Note: There has been some confusion about the start time for the CIC3* on Friday. Rechenstelle is the official scoring system for the WEG and is also running scoring for the test event this weekend. All correct times and scores for the CIC3* can be found on Rechenstelle here. Click here for Friday the order of go.

Stay tuned for EN’s full preview of Capt. Mark Phillips’ CIC3* cross country course, which is very similar to the track we saw last year at this event.

Scroll down for a full photo gallery from today’s CIC3* dressage courtesy of the one and only Leslie Threlkeld. Advanced dressage is underway now, so be sure to check back later in the day for much more from The Fork. Go Eventing.

The Fork: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

WEG Test Event: Website, Schedule, Thursday Dressage Order, Friday Dressage Order, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage