Nicholson has three-pronged Burghley tilt
Kiwi eventer Andrew Nicholson is out to defend his entitle at the Burghley Horse Trials this weekend, but win or lose, he’ll withal receive got abode the $US150,000 HSBC Classics prize.
Nicholson, currently the world’s position out ane on the HSBC Rider Rankings, has an unassailable Pb inwards the rich series, as well as Burghley, which starts today, is the finally leg for the season.
He would live the kickoff Kiwi to win the cash rich series, which has a $US150,000 kickoff prize, as well as only the 2nd to notch back-to-back Burghley victories. Mark Todd won Burghley inwards 1990 as well as 1991, as well as has his parent on the trophy 5 times.
Last twelvemonth Nicholson was 2nd past times a unmarried hollo for inwards the Classics Series – which encompasses the half dozen premier 4 star events – but this fourth dimension round, he heads into the finally circular unbeatable. Not that he is resting on his laurels.
Nicholson followed victory at Burghley 2012 alongside a remarkable run of iii to a greater extent than CCI4* wins (at Pau, Kentucky as well as Luhmühlen), as well as few would bet against him extending his winning run to include a 4th trophy at the beautiful Lincolnshire venue.
“Every win is special, but yous only enjoy that instant as well as and then motion on,” Nicholson said. “I am ever really driven towards the adjacent goal. It is a tough old game. You win ane twenty-four hr menses but the adjacent is a novel chapter, therefore on yous go.”
In a Burghley first, Nicholson has iii rides,because at that topographic point is no waiting listing this year. He has finally year’s winner, the attractive grayness Avebury, addition Pau winner Nereo as well as the racing-bred Irish Gaelic Thoroughbred Calico Joe, a rigid galloping Equus caballus alongside proficient CCI4* form.
“I ever receive got a flake of a soft spot for Nereo but Avebury won it finally twelvemonth as well as is feeling good,” Nicholson said. “Calico Joe could win the whole matter if he went clear inwards the showjumping . . . if I was a gambler I may position a footling something on Nereo.”
His perennial contender William Fox-Pitt (GBR), 2nd on the HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard as well as also lying 2nd inwards the HSBC Rankings, has 2 chances to extend his remarkable Burghley tape to a historic 7th win. Fresh from his private bronze medal success at the HSBC FEI European Championships inwards Malmö (SWE), he rides the 2011 winner Parklane Hawk, a character New Zealand Thoroughbred, as well as the classy Selle Francais Neuf des Coeurs.
Fox-Pitt suffered an anxious start to the calendar week when he was delayed returning from the European Championships inwards Malmö, Sweden, next a safety strike at Copenhagen airport.
But there’s to a greater extent than to this fascinating contest than the old Nicholson/Fox-Pitt rivalry. At Badminton inwards May, both riders were quietly trumped past times New Zealand’s Jock Paget, who is breathing downward Fox-Pitt’s cervix inwards 3rd house on the HSBC FEI Classics leader board. The fashionable Kiwi brings his 2 best horses, Badminton winner Clifton Promise addition the as talented Clifton Lush, as well as he could easily bring together the elite band of riders who receive got won both of Britain’s CCI4*s inwards the same 12 months.
“Jock is the primary human being of the instant as well as has 2 really proficient horses there,” Nicholson said. “There are a few others out there, but Jock is the primary danger.”
He said the victories as well as strength of the Kiwi riders is bully for the country. “Such success makes everyone start to elevator their games.”
There are 5 other New Zealanders lining upwards at Burghley, all chasing glory alongside a £60,000 kickoff prize on offer.
Former Burghley winner Mark Todd has Oloa as well as Ravenstar entered, piece his London Olympics team-mate Jonelle Richards has Flintstar as well as The Deputy, alongside Lucy Jackson inwards on Willy Do, Neil Spratt on Upleadon, and Craig Nicolai aboard Just Ironic. Bruce Haskell was forced to take away Kiwi Smog afterwards the Equus caballus bruised a sole.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand high functioning manager Sarah Harris says both Nicholson as well as Paget are currently inwards “amazing form”.
“Andrew volition come upwards out fighting to claim consecutive Burghley titles as well as he for sure has the Equus caballus ability to practise that, piece Jock is to a greater extent than than capable of a win, specially on Promise,” she said.
Much involvement volition surroundings the Burghley début of Ingrid Klimke (GER), the newly crowned European squad gilded as well as private silvery medalist. She rides the 16-year-old FRH Butts Abraxxas, her partner inwards the finally half dozen squad championships, as well as if they tin post away exhibit improved shape inwards the finally Jumping phase, they could receive got the top prize.
Klimke’s squad mate, Andreas Dibowski, reunited alongside his top Equus caballus FRH Butts Leon, has winning credentials too, as well as if all goes correct for Bettina Hoy alongside the enigmatic but talented Lanfranco, 10th last year, the High German national anthem could telephone out over Burghley for the kickoff fourth dimension inwards its 52-year history.
Other notable newcomers to Burghley are Paget’s friend as well as trainer Kevin McNab (AUS) alongside Clifton Pinot, 5th at Luhmühlen this year, Canadian Rebecca Howard alongside Riddle Master, 12th at Badminton, as well as Astier Nicolas, winner of a European squad bronze for French Republic inwards Malmö on Sunday. The 23-year-old Frenchman rides ane of the youngest horses inwards the field, the nine-year-old “flying pony” Quickly Du Buguet.
Aside from the ever-reliable Fox-Pitt, British hopes also residuum alongside the 2009 winner Oliver Townend, this fourth dimension on the onetime Nicholson ride Armada, 4th finally year; the 2003 victor Pippa Funnell, on the magnificent Redesigned; as well as Kristina Cook on the up-and-coming De Novo News.
Contenders for the HSBC Training Bursary, worth $1,000 to the highest-placed CCI4* newcomer, include Britons Matt Heath as well as Alex Postolowsky, as good as Wills Goodhew as well as Sophie Jenman, who are both only 21 years old.
Burghley’s undulating parkland ever offers a truthful cross-country challenge, but this twelvemonth course of educational activity designer Captain Mark Phillips has kept everyone guessing as he has re-routed the track. It starts inwards the reverse direction to finally year, which agency the arena fences, including Lord Burghley’s Hurdles, come upwards early; the influential Discovery Valley (fence 5) asks a completely dissimilar question, as well as the famous drib at the Classics Leaf Pit is at debate 7.
With 67 horses representing 12 nations including 5 onetime champions as well as around of the best riders inwards the world, it volition live challenging.
At Wednesday’s kickoff trot up, 4 horses were held for re-inspection past times the the world jury of Nick Burton (president), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) as well as Eric Lieby (FRA). Those held were Wills Goodhew alongside More Luck; Mark Todd’s Ravenstar who was trotted upwards past times Andrew Nicholson; Matthew Heath as well as The Lion; as well as Emily Galbraith as well as Timing. All but Timing passed on re-inspection, as well as Matthew Wright has withdrawn his ride Caution Well Done, ane of exclusively 4 mares entered.
Two of the iii mares starting are from France: Piano Star (Benjamine Massey) as well as Quickly Du Buguet (Astier Nicolas). They are joined past times Australia’s Sam Griffiths alongside Paulank Brockagh. Only 2 mares receive got ever won Burghley (Headley Britannia 2006 as well as Maid Marion 1973.
Griffiths, who finished 3rd hither inwards 2009 on his other ride, Happy Times, said: “It’s a thrill to live dorsum at Land Rover Burghley, It’s the final result all riders aspire to win.”
Todd, at 58, volition live the oldest passenger inwards the field, piece first-timer Wills Goodhew is the youngest at 21. Sophie Jenman (also a first-timer) is ane calendar month younger than Wills.
Sarah Bullimore alongside Lilly Corinne volition ride the guinea grunter dressage exam inwards front end of the Ground Jury at 9.10 am earlier the kickoff combination, Louisa Milne Home as well as King Eider (GBR), kicking off the contest inwards the Main Arena at 9.30am on Friday.
Reporting: Kate Green, Diana Dobson, Burghley Horse Trials
Images below © Mike Bain
HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard (after 5 of 6 events)
1 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 55 points
2 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 36
3 Jonathan Paget (NZL) 27
4 Michael Jung (GER) 22
5 Craig Barrett (AUS) 15
6 Zara Phillips (GBR) 12
7 Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12
8 Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10
nine Sandra Auffarth (GER) 8
10 Bruce Davidson Jr (USA) 8
HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 calendar
1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) – 24-28 Oct 2012
2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) – 22-25 Nov 2012
3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) – 25-28 Apr 2013
4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) – 3-6 May 2013
5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented past times DHL PAKET (GER) – 13-16 June 2013
6 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) – 5-8 September 2013
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