Blenheim Horse Trials dressage outcomes: Oliver Townend Cooley Rosalent

Newly topped Burghley champion Oliver Townend has powered into provisional second within the younger horse CCI4*-S Blenheim Horse Trials dressage outcomes with the ascending star Cooley Rosalent.

The elegant mare, owned by Paul Ridgeon, set her marketing campaign off to a powerful begin with the most effective check in Friday’s contingent within the eight- and nine-year-old class. Their rating of 24.7 is similar mark as Brookfield Future Information and Piggy March produced on Thursday, placing them equal second within the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage outcomes at this stage.

Cooley Rosalent, a nine-year-old by Valent and out of Roselier mare Bellany Jewel, appeared an image within the morning sunshine, with the judges broadly in settlement on her mark.

She scored silver on the six-year-old younger horse World Championships in 2020, was seventh within the seven-year-old class the next yr, and involves Blenheim with a number of prime worldwide outcomes plus the expertise of a five-star below her belt.

The scores are tight on this aggressive class, which has a historical past of serving as a stepping stone for horses on the highway to future five-star and championship glory. The highest 23 horses on this 95-strong class all begin the leaping phases on sub-30 dressage scores.

Thursday’s leaders Tom McEwen and MHS Brown Jack, owned by Fred and Penny Barker, have held their prime spot. However simply 0.1 of a penalty separates them from Cooley Rosalent and Brookfield Future Information, who’s owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry.

Tim Value now has two horses within the prime 10, with CHIO 20 (25.1) edging forward of stablemate Jarillo (26.7). The duo maintain provisional fourth and fifth respectively.

“I used to be very happy, as a result of that is his first superior check and it’s good to get into some actions the place they assist the whole lot,” mentioned Tim, explaining the step up between three- and four-star.

“It’s good to place him right into a form and make him go sideways, as a result of it’s enhancing him. So I’ve been wanting ahead to this stage.”

The “BFG” nine-year-old, who Tim owns with Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattell, and Lucy and Ben Sangster, is considered one of three thrilling prospects the New Zealand world quantity two has on this class.

Blenheim Horse Trials dressage outcomes: ‘He is aware of he’s king of the yard’

Storm Straker and Fever Pitch bounded into sixth, with their elegant efficiency incomes the pair a rating of 27.

“I felt a little bit of strain, solely as a result of it’s an enormous championship and also you need to do effectively, don’t you?” mentioned Storm, who combines using together with her job in insurance coverage.

Storm has produced this Tannenhof’s Farenheit son from a four-year-old. He has not at all times been straightforward, owing to his sensitivity, however endurance and coaching is reaping rewards.

“He actually trusts me now and he’s actually began displaying character prior to now yr, which is very nice,” mentioned Storm, using for her mom Victoria Straker. “He has come out of his shell. He’s particular. We like him. He is aware of he’s king of the yard; he’s bought an incredible character, and it’s very nice that he’s shining.”

Stephen Heal and the flashy, people-loving chestnut Quidam De Lux impressed the judges to earn a rating of 27.5 and sit seventh after dressage.

“He’s executed loads of good checks and usually at all times does; he simply typically struggles with the contact a bit of. Immediately he felt principally on-side. We at all times win the nice and cozy up!” mentioned Stephen, with a smile.

“He’s naturally fairly lazy, so I don’t need to be on him for very lengthy. However you want lengthy sufficient to get all of the gears working. It’s been a case of enjoying round, and it really feel like on the entire, we bought it proper as we speak.”

Eire’s Clare Abbott and the nine-year-old Mr Mighty, who she owns by Cormac and John McKay, showcased superb canter work to spring into rivalry, scoring 27.9 for provisional eighth within the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage outcomes. They’re the very best of 4 mixtures on the identical rating at this stage, cut up by collectives.

“He has so many gears and he’s so highly effective. It’s about holding that toned, as he wish to do tempi modifications and fancier stuff,” she mentioned.

“The cross-country course seems nice. It’s positively constructed with the eight- and nine-year-olds in thoughts – it’s progressive in measurement and issue, and it provides the horses each alternative to construct up into it.”

Susan Lamb and Therese Miller’s Jutopia, piloted by Australia’s Sammi Birch, is in ninth. Caroline Harris and D Day full the highest 10.

“He desires to do the whole lot accurately, so the stronger he’s getting, the extra I can present him off,” mentioned Caroline, who rides the nine-year-old Billy Mexico son for Fiona Olivier, Lucy Matthews, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle.

The CCI4*-S showjumping begins at 8am tomorrow (16 September), concluding with cross-country on Sunday (17 September).

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