Nicholson takes early dressage lead at RK3DE
Andrew Nicholson in addition to Calico Joe lay upward the best rank (40.8 penalties) on the starting fourth dimension solar daytime of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Becky Holder of the United States, on Can’t Fire Me (44.2), stands second, in addition to Shandiss McDonald of Canada, on Rockfield Grant Juan (45.7), is third.
William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, the Rolex Kentucky winner inward 2010 in addition to 2012, is quaternary on Seacookie TSF (46.2).
The 2d one-half of the 46-horse champaign performs their dressage tests on Friday.
In the morn Nicholson had a tense 2d every bit the the world jury of Nick Burton (Great Britain), Christina Klingspor (Sweden) in addition to Brian Ross (United States) held his second-day mountain Quimbo, but in addition to therefore accepted him when he was presented a 2d time.
Nicholson, 51, is a six-time Olympian in addition to was a fellow member of New Zealand’s bronze-medal squad at the 2010 World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park. Nicholson needs to win this Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to proceed his cry for to win the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam, awarded to the passenger who tin win the world’s iii oldest CCI4* events (Burghley inward England, Badminton inward England, in addition to Rolex Kentucky) inward succession. Nicholson won Burghley concluding September and, if victorious here, would demand to in addition to therefore win Badminton adjacent weekend.
“I’ve come upward out hither alongside the Grand Slam inward mind, certainly, but at the 2d I’m only trying to win this 1 first. I’ll worry virtually it to a greater extent than adjacent weekend at Badminton,” Nicholson said.
“It’s a smashing arena to ride inward here,” he added. “When you lot larn downward that ramp into the ring, it gives you lot a buzz that you’re somewhere special, but [Calico Joe] stayed cool or therefore the telephone in addition to gave me 100 per centum inward the whole test. I allow him downward a duad of times, but he came through for me.”
Unlike Nicholson, McDonald, 28, of Oakville, Ontario, is riding at Rolex Kentucky for the starting fourth dimension time. “I was only therefore happy to live on here, in addition to I was only happy that my Equus caballus was therefore settled in addition to willing in addition to did his project inward the ring. We were able to create what we’ve been working on at domicile inward the ring,” she said.
Holder, 44, of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, has placed several times at Rolex Kentucky, but she said that she e'er looks forrard to dressage day. “It’s e'er an amazing feeling to ride downward that ramp into the Rolex ring,” she said. “It was actually squeamish to create got [Can’t Fire Me] live on calm in addition to relaxed inward the telephone in addition to create what he actually tin create today.”
Even though there’s withal some other solar daytime of dressage ahead, these riders are looking ahead to the cross-country exam on Saturday. They gave a thumb’s upward to Derek di Grazia’s imposing course.
“Derek has done an unbelievable job. It’s real big, but it’s real Equus caballus fair,” said Nicholson. “All the fences give the Equus caballus plenty fourth dimension to come across what he has to do, and, to me, that’s real important. I mean value it’s a adept test, in addition to I’m looking forrard to riding it.”
Holder in addition to McDonald both said they were relieved to take away heed Nicholson enjoin that di Grazia’s course of pedagogy was big. “I idea it was huge!” said Holder. “It’s a truthful four-star track. But it’s e'er a pleasance to walk in addition to ride Derek’s courses – if you lot ride them positively, you lot terminate upward alongside a much to a greater extent than experienced in addition to confident Equus caballus at the end.”
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