It’s a familiar spot for Liz Halliday-Sharp at this week’s Tryon International, presented by Fairfax & Favor. She finds herself once more atop the board (with about half of the field yet to see on Friday) with The Nutcracker Syndicate’s Cooley Nutcracker (Tolant – Ballyshan Cleopatra), earning a 27.4 from judges Peter Gray, Jo Young, and Polly Huntington in the CCI4*-L division. This is a pair who more than likely would have topped the final standings at the Lexington CCI4*-S last month, save for an unlucky frangible table activation penalty on cross country. For Liz, that outcome will be old news as she looks ahead to this larger goal of securing that first 4*-L finish for the 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding.
Hot on Liz’s heels in the early going is recent Kentucky 5* winner Tamie Smith, piloting the Elliot V Partnership’s Elliot V (Zavall VDL – Vera-R) to a current second place on a score of 32.8. Lexington 4*-S winners Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo (VDL Arkansas – Taneys Leader), riding for Canada, bring up third place on a dressage score of 33.0.
Tomorrow’s standings could look a little different, with combinations such as Boyd Martin and Commando 3 and Sharon White and Claus 63 poised to fill in some of those top positions. Also of note are Boyd with his 2021 Maryland 5 Star winner, On Cue, back in action and currently leading the CCI3*-S on a score of 27.7.
Here’s a look at the rest of the current leaders from Tryon. We’ll be back with a more comprehensive report later this weekend, so stay tuned for much more!
CCI4*-S: Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California (25.2)
CCI3*-L: Allison Springer and Castle Howard Romeo (30.4)
CCI3*-S: Boyd Martin and On Cue (27.7)
CCI2*-L: Allie Knowles and Boo Radley (27.1)
CCI2*-S: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Maybach (24.2)
Advanced: Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill (26.1)
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