Battle of eventing’s titans at Badminton Horse Trials
Baca Juga
The scene is laid for a thrilling showdown betwixt two riders at the pinnacle of their powers inwards Britain’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this weekend.
Badminton is quaternary leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, and Andrew Nicholson (NZL) is electrical flow HSBC Rankings leader in addition to holds a 10-point-lead inwards the Classics standings. He scored a stunning victory over William Fox-Pitt (GBR) at Kentucky lastly weekend.
The ii riders, who finished showtime in addition to minute inwards the 2012 HSBC Rankings, are at the peak of their careers, amongst the strongest strings of horses they’ve ever had. Between them, their 4 Badminton horses need maintain won v CCI4*s, in addition to they need maintain gear upward a fascinating head-to-head for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
Fox-Pitt, who has won eleven CCI4*s, including Badminton inwards 2004, volition ride Parklane Hawk, winner of Burghley inwards 2011 in addition to Kentucky inwards 2012, in addition to Oslo, who topped the line-up at Pau inwards 2011. Nicholson, who has v CCI4* victories to his name, competes on Nereo, winner of Pau 2012, in addition to Avebury, showtime at Burghley lastly year.
“This is a dream scenario for Badminton,” said Fox-Pitt. “It’s going to live actually exciting, although at the destination of the twenty-four hours it’ll in all probability live neither of us winning – hello, Michael Jung! So many things need maintain to come upward correct to win whatever three-day event. But we’ve both got lovely horses in addition to we’ve both had a neat grooming for Badminton, in addition to then we’ll see.”
Badminton has received an exceptionally star-studded entry this year, and, every bit Fox-Pitt says, it is Michael Jung (GER), the reigning Olympic, World in addition to European champion, who volition undoubtedly start favourite on his best horse, La Biosthetique Sam. He besides has a strong back-up inwards showtime ride Leopin, tertiary at Pau inwards 2012.
The unassuming Jung showtime visited Badminton every bit a youngster, in addition to has wanted to ride hither ever since, but his solely world appearances inwards United Kingdom need maintain both been at Greenwich Park – at the Test Event in addition to lastly year’s Olympic Games where he won squad in addition to private gold. As a result, many British spectators need maintain never seen him ride, in addition to then they volition live inwards for a process when they come across the original at work. Interestingly, no first-timer has won at Badminton since Mark Todd (NZL) inwards 1980 – could Jung, amongst his impressive credentials, intermission this record?
Jung’s Olympic squad mates besides need maintain the credentials to win – private bronze medallist Sandra Auffarth (Opgun Louvo), Dirk Schrade (King Artus) in addition to Ingrid Klimke (Butts Abraxxas).
Fox-Pitt’s swain Olympic squad members Mary King (Imperial Cavalier in addition to Kings Temptress), Kristina Cook (Miners Frolic in addition to De Novo News) in addition to Zara Phillips (High Kingdom) should besides characteristic inwards what promises to live a highly international line-up, in addition to much involvement volition follow the reappearance of Redesigned, 5th at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, amongst Pippa Funnell.
Since Badminton began 64 years agone inwards 1949, British riders need maintain dominated. However, this year’s rival is broad open. Two ascent stars from the Antipodes are Jock (Jonathan) Paget (NZL) amongst Clifton Promise, minute at Pau in addition to 7th at WEG 2010, in addition to Clifton Lush, in addition to Chris Burton (AUS) on Holstein Park Leilani.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand high surgery managing director Sarah Harris says that Nicholson was her selection to win, “but never underestimate Jonathan,” she says.
“Lush is a lovely Equus caballus who hasn’t actually had the chance to achieve his potential withal … it could live his turn, in addition to Jonathan is a serious talent.”
Harris says a Badminton win is all role of the wider high surgery programme for the Kiwis to dominate the world’s 4 star events, the highest degree inwards eventing.
New Zealand has more combinations accepted than whatever other land other than hosts Great Britain. Also starting for the Kiwis is Caroline Powell, who has ii mounts, London reserve Lucy Jackson besides has ii entered, in addition to Megan Heath in addition to her Equus caballus St Daniel are the solely combination on the Kiwi bill of fare that are non withal members of the high surgery squad.
NZ’s Harris says that Caroline Powell is about other ane who can’t live discounted, specially on Onwards in addition to Upwards. “He’s a fleck green, amongst only ane 4 star nether his belt, but he is a super Equus caballus for the hereafter in addition to Caroline volition live keen to cement her house inwards the starting line-up at the World Championships (in 2014).”
Powell’s superstar Lenamore, who retired before this year, volition live honoured at a parade inwards the primary arena on the lastly twenty-four hours of competition. The combination concur their tape 7 consecutive completions, which saw them only in ane lawsuit exterior the prize money.
Ireland’s Aoife Sisk is certain to larn good on Master Crusoe, 7th at the London Olympic Games, in addition to Italy has ii stars inwards Stefano Brecciaroli (Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve) in addition to Vittoria Panizzon on the bouncing grayish mare, Borough Pennyz.
There are half dozen quondam winners inwards the field, headed past times 57-year-old Sir Mark Todd (NZL), the defending champion who showtime won Badminton 33 years ago, next upward amongst victories inwards 1994, 1996 in addition to 2011. He rides Major Milestone in addition to Ravenstar, the latter for Irish Gaelic passenger Jayne Doherty, who is pregnant.
While Todd is the defending champ at Badminton, having won it inwards 2011 aboard NZB Land Vision – 2012 was cancelled due to bad weather condition – is non trumping himself every bit the ane to beat.
“There are a lot of real established horses at that topographic point this twelvemonth … it is a real strong plain in addition to could live anyone’s,” he said.
Ravenstar is having his showtime 4 star start in addition to Todd is confident if everything goes well, they should live inwards the hap ten. He says Major Milestone is to a greater extent than than probable going to live “playing a fleck of choose handgrip of up” afterward the dressage.
“It is ever proficient to live at Badminton in addition to I would honey to live at that topographic point this twelvemonth amongst Campino, but he’s out amongst injury in addition to won’t live doing anything until adjacent spring,” Todd said.
The other previous Badminton winners inwards the plain are Mary King (1992, 2000), Pippa Funnell (2002, 2003, 2005), William Fox-Pitt (2004), Oliver Townend (2009) in addition to Paul Tapner (2010).
Since 1949, at that topographic point need maintain been v Australian winners of Badminton (Bill Roycroft, Laurie Morgan, Andrew Hoy, Lucinda Fredericks in addition to Paul Tapner); ii from the USA (Bruce Davidson in addition to David O’Connor), ane Swiss (Hans Schwarzenbach), ane French (Nicolas Touzaint), ane Irish Gaelic (Eddie Boylan) addition Mark Todd’s 4 wins for New Zealand.
The in-form Andrew Nicholson (NZL), who has only won 3 consecutive CCI4*s, holds the tape for Badminton completions – 31 times – but has withal to win. His best number to appointment is minute inwards 2004 on Lord Killinghurst. Could 2013 live his year?
He has made no cloak-and-dagger of his focus on the HSBC FEI Classics Series, which he is leading, in addition to is inwards a plum seat to convey the cash rich Rolex Grand Slam – the passenger who wins Badminton, Burghley in addition to Kentucky consecutively pockets $US350,000.
“It’s going to live a real interesting weekend,” says the number ane basis ranked eventer.
Badminton is besides a house where immature riders brand their grade – in addition to this year, at that topographic point are 3 candidates for the HSBC Training Bursary, which is presented to the highest placed passenger never to need maintain previously completed a 4-star degree event: Jamie Atkinson (GBR) on Celtic Fortune, Sarah Ennis (IRL) amongst Sugar Brown Babe in addition to Manuel Grave (POR) on Samaritano.
Just 85 combinations volition delineate of piece of job upward at Badminton, which offers $117,000 to the winner. The activity gets nether agency amongst the showtime Equus caballus inspection on Thursday, followed past times ii days of dressage, which starts on Fri at 9.30am with Oliver Townend (GBR) showtime into the arena on Armada.
HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard (after 3 of 6 events)
1 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) thirty points
2 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 20
3 Craig Barrett (AUS) 15
4 Jonathan Paget (NZL) 12
5 Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12
6 Michael Jung (GER) 10
7 Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10
8 Buck Davidson (USA) 8
nine Jessica Manson (AUS) 8
10 Lynn Symansky (USA) 6
Additional reporting: Diana Dobson
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