Phillip Dutton Dominates Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton and The Z Partnership’s Z came full circle today at Stable View Oktoberfest. They won the inaugural Advanced together here in 2016, and today they were winners once again in the CCI4*-S, but with a partnership transformed by years of practice.

“We know each other really well now so it’s pretty nice – I know how he’s going to think and I think he anticipates what I want as well,” he said.

The Z Partnership’s 11-year-old Zangersheide (Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) moved into second place after a clear show jumping round before galloping to the win on a double clear cross country result that secured a final result of 30.6.

“Today was probably his best cross country round ever. He was really good and it couldn’t be a better prep for him for Fair Hill. I didn’t actually know that I was in first and second going into cross country. I knew Singapore was in the lead, but I didn’t that Z had come up,” he said. “They’re both horses that galloping wouldn’t be their natural strength so getting them fit, and getting them hard and learning to go fast is something that I have to work on so I wasn’t planning on just going round and going really slowly, no matter where I was sitting.”

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection’s hot streak continues with a second place finish at Stable View. Mary Ann Ghadban’s 15-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Naomagic I, by Exorbitant xx) joined Z in coming home inside the time across the Captain Mark Phillips designed track.

“Pippy’s” only faults this weekend were 1.6 time penalties in the show jumping phase, which ultimately cost her a second four-star win this season, to finish on a score of 32.

“I had a marathon few rides before that (3 in the three-star!), so I didn’t get to walk her show jumping track. Some of the lines were the same and some were different, but I did have the advantage of at least riding in the ring already today,” Lynn said. “Because of my schedule I didn’t get to pre-ride her either. I thought she was a bit more on the muscle, so I went a little quieter than normal to make sure she had a clean ride. In hindsight, I gave up a few costly penalties for the win, but I thought she went well in there.”

Lynn admits she’s not as familiar with Stable View, but after visiting for the Pan American Games team training sessions, she made it her plan to return.

“I saw everything they were doing with the facility and track. I was so impressed with their commitment, which is why I decided to come back,” she said. “A track like this is harder for her to make time with all the trees than at Great Meadow, which is quite open, so you have to be very good at finding the most efficient line possible and using her where she’s good: opening up and running.”

Sydney Conley Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sydney Conley Elliott was focused on achieving a successful final outing before Fair Hill next month, and she achieved that goal today, finishing third with QC Diamantaire, a 9-year-old Oldenburg (Diarado x Lantana, by Sandro Hit) owned by Carol Stephens. Benefiting from team training sessions as alternates for the 2019 Pan American Games, the pair added only 3.2 time penalties for a final result of 34.

“He was full of fire today, which was great. I’ve been waiting to feel that and get him out in front of the leg. He’s a horse that would rather be in the ring for his job, so we when get out on cross country I’m not always sure what’s going to be leaving the box that day. But today was great. He was forward and ready to do the job,” Sydney said.

Today was a big fitness test for “Q” as he prepares for his first CCI4*-L, and he passed with flying colors.

“We have completely revamped his fitness. It’s been in the works for about a year now — he’s almost doubled the fitness work. I am feeling really positive about Fair Hill. I think he showed me today he can put all the pieces together,” she said.

Will Faudree and Caeleste. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Will Faudree and Caeleste, a 12-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Happygolucky, by Lucky Lionell) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, settled into fourth place, adding only 4 cross country time penalties for a final result of 37.1.

Overnight leaders Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore kept control of the class after show jumping, performing a clear round across Chris Barnard’s track, but 8.8 cross country time penalties dropped them down into fifth place. He and the 10-year-old KWPN (Singapore x Riedellia, by Animo) owned by Ann Jones, Thomas Tierney and David Vos had a final score of 38.2.

“We misjudged our entrance into the startbox and I had a little trouble with him there so we wasted a bit of time, but his cross country was good,” Phillip said. “When I walked the second water I misjudged his stride length so I added too much there but apart from that it felt like a perfect round. I could have gone a bit quicker I but overall I was really pleased.”

Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Only one rail marred the weekend for Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul, who finished in sixth place. The Caribbean Soul Syndicate’s 12-year-old (Cimarron Secret x Ogygian’s Desire, by Ogygian) was the third and final horse to produce a double clear result in the final phase to finish on his dressage score of 38.9.

Despite falling from Cooley SOS late in the course, Hallie Coon was on her next horse, Celien, in time for a clear cross country round with 6.4 time penalties. They finish in seventh place on a score of 42.2.

Coming home just one second too slow, Waylon Roberts and Lancaster finished in eighth place on a score of 43.5. Kate Brown and Victor Z 54 jumped from 18th to 9th place over the course of two days, finishing with a clear cross country that added 4.4 time penalties. Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre’ earned 10th place on a result of 44.1.

Doug Payne was the big winner in the CCI3*-S class with Vandiver, who is getting back on track after falling at Burghley. They finished on their dressage score, a 27.6, before they reroute to Fair Hill. Jacob Fletcher and 5o1 Mischief Managed follow in second place after picking up 2 cross country time penalties for a final score of 29.2. Will Faudree was third with FRH Ramona, finishing on his dressage score of 29.4.

Chinch is off to take an ice bath after a sweltering day on site. Many thanks to Stable View for all their efforts to keep the grounds, the horses and the people happy at Oktoberfest this weekend. Go eventing.

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