Kiwis look to pack punch at Pau
In-form passenger Andrew Nicholson spearheads a potent New Zealand contingent at Pau inwards French Republic this weekend, the in conclusion CCI4* effect of the northern hemisphere season.
Les Etoiles des Pau, the get-go of the season’s HSBC FEI Classics, has attracted the large guns, including basis champion together with Olympic gilt medallist Michael Jung (GER) together with HSBC Classics winner William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who only pipped Nicholson.
But Nicholson, who was besides 2d at Pau in conclusion year, has been inwards superb shape recently, winning iv large events inwards the past times iv months – the iv star Burghley International Horse Trials, together with the 3 star Boekelo, Blenheim together with Barbary Castle events.
He’s besides on the cusp of finishing the flavor at the overstep of the HSBC World Rankings which would convey a $US50,000 bonus.
Nicholson has both Mr Cruise Control together with Nereo entered at Pau, together with he’s picking his bronze medal-winning World Champs together with Olympic mountain Nereo to complete at the front end of the champaign – only ahead of Mr Cruise Control.
“Nereo is my best bet,” said Nicholson, who was a fundamental purpose of New Zealand’s Olympic bronze medal-winning team.
However, it is Nereo’s get-go start at Pau, together with Mr Cruise Control was 2d inwards the effect in conclusion year.
The basis position out 1 ranked passenger besides gets the nod from Kiwi high surgery charabanc Erik Duvander.
“He’s basis course of didactics together with could easily win on either horse,” he says.
Also competing at Pau volition endure Jonathan Paget on Clifton Promise, Caroline Powell aboard Onwards together with Upwards together with Mark Todd on Major Milestone.
“Promise has come upwardly dorsum later on the Olympics looking a meg dollars together with is keen to run again,” says Duvander.
He says Powell’s Onwards together with Upwards is a immature Equus caballus beingness tested at iv star score for the get-go time.
“Major Milestone is together with therefore potent inwards the cross province together with showjumping phases, but the dressage only makes it hard for him.”
Equestrian Sports New Zealand high surgery manager Sarah Harris is besides looking for the flavor to goal on a high.
“What a neat twelvemonth it has been for the high surgery programme, amongst numerous combinations stepping upwardly to iv star together with regaining a feel of Kiwi potency at this level,” she said.
“We select besides seen exciting younger horses at the in conclusion few events, inwards item at Blenheim together with Boekelo, showing that nosotros are inwards for only about neat contest leading inwards to the World Championships inwards French Republic inwards 2014.”
Pau has attracted to a greater extent than than sixty entries from 17 nations – many of whom are chasing those all of import early on points inwards the Classics series, which is considered the grand slam of eventing.
The other 5 events inwards the Classics serial are the Australian International Three Day Event inwards Adelaide inwards November, the Rolex Kentucky Three Day effect inwards April, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials inwards May, Luhmuhlen inwards Deutschland inwards June together with finally the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials inwards September. The serial offers $US150,000 to the winner.
Pau started on Th amongst the Equus caballus inspection, which volition endure followed past times the dressage on Friday, cross province Sat together with showjumping overnight Sunday.
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