Wil Enzinger in the 4* lead at AUS3de riding Aquifer
Wil Enzinger today claimed victory in the Dressage at the Australian 3 Day Event in Adelaide - second leg of this prestigious FEI Classics™ series uniting the world’s six four-star Eventing competitions - with his 12-year-old Thoroughbred, Wenlock Aquifer.
This gelding by Alannan won a maiden race at Adelaide’s Victoria Park Racecourse back in 2006 over 900 metres, and today as the first of the ten combinations to contest the four-star dressage phase, Enzinger and Wenlock Aquifer took the lead with 51.80 penalties and held it.
“I am really happy being in this position and Aquifer is well prepared for this competition,” said Enzinger. "I am determined to keep his pole position tomorrow".
“The cross-country course will be tougher than last year - everything has been tightened up. Where last year we had two strides, this year we have one, and there is more room for error. I just have to go clear and fast.”
The Thoroughbreds usually shine on cross country day, but Hazel Shannon riding the glowing chestnut 11-year-old Clifford now holds second place with 52.10 penalties.
There is nothing extravagant about this Passing Shot gelding, but as Hazel said “he just keeps doing his job, he has the biggest heart”.
And this is just what is needed to tackle Mike Etherington-Smith’s challenging cross-country course tomorrow, which runs through the spectacular Adelaide parklands surrounding the city.
Victorian veterinarian, Rowan Luxmore currently holds third place on 53.20 riding his home-bred Irish Sport Horse, Bells ‘N’ Whistles by Ard Black Cat.
”It is a dream to ride at this level,” said Luxmore, who is having his first four-star run this year. “This Adelaide FEI Classics event is amazing for us here in Australia.”
Other stand out performers from today’s dressage were 2016 Rio Olympic Games Bronze Medallist and Sydney Olympic Gold Medallist Stuart Tinney and War Hawk who are placed in fourth position, with less than 5 points between first and fourth place.
Rio Olympic Bronze Medallist Shane Rose and Glenorchy South Park are sitting in sixth position.
CIC3*
Tim Boland and GV Billy Elliot were leading at the end of the first day of dressage competition for the CIC3*. Tim left a lasting impression on the judges, with a score of 44.30 penalties. Snapping at his heels with just 0.6 points between them, was his stable mate, former World Number One in Eventing and current Event Riders Masters winner, Oliver Townend from the UK on Tim’s horse, Napoleon on a score of 44.90 penalties.
Townend and Napoleon jumped into the lead after Show Jumping with a flawless clear round, leaving them on their dressage score of 44.90 penalties heading into the Cross Country tomorrow. Samantha Felton, from New-Zealand, who was third after Dressage takes second position in the leaderboard on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo. Unfortunately for Tim Boland, GV Billy Elliott was just not up for this jumping round and he got eliminated.
Oliver was one of only two clear rounds, the other was local rider Megan Jones on Kirby Park Impress, who moved into third position.
CCI2*
Gemma Tinney is leading both the CCI2* and the Young Rider Championship after Dressage with a score of 40.80 penalties. Jessica Rae is in second position on Rascal and third is Shenae Lowings riding Venture Sky High. The CCI2* Cross-country will start tomorrow at 10am.
The day concluded with the debut of the Jumping with the Stars, which included the CIC3* Show Jumping, a highly entertaining celebrity ride and drive with a carriage horse and driver team, and the One Round Stakes, featuring some of Australia’s best show jumpers.
Tomorrow’s Cross Country phase - true test of #TwoHearts
Adelaide’s biggest ever crowd is expected for cross-country day tomorrow.
Cross Country is the most exhilarating phase of Eventing, requiring determination, courage and unfailing trust between horse and rider to clear one imposing obstacle after another – a true test of #TwoHearts.
Thousands of fans are expected to flock Adelaide’s beautiful parklands to enjoy the Cross Country Day. Road closures for Cross Country on Saturday will be in place from early Saturday with Bartels Road and Wakefield Road closes at both ends at 5am on Saturday morning and re-opening to traffic again at 10pm Saturday night.
Gates open at 8.00am for the Cross Country Day, with the first horse and rider combination starting at 10.00am in the CCI2* competition, followed by the Adelaide CCI4* at approximately 1:30pm, and the CIC3* at 3.30pm.
See the 2016 virtual course walk here: http://australian3de.com.au/cross-country/
All the action will be live on FEI TV - don’t miss a hoof beat: www.feitv.org
FEI Classics™ AUS3de results - after Dressage:
- Wilhelm Enzinger (AUS) Wenlock Aquifer 51.80
- Hazel Shannon (AUS) Clifford 52.10
- Rohan Luxmore (AUS) Bells ‘N Whistles 53.20
- Stuart Tinney (AUS) War Hawk 56.40
- Tegan Lush (AUS) Tempis Fugit 56.70
- Shane Rose (AUS) Glenorchy South Park 59.10
- Andrew Cooper (AUS) Evergem Perfection 59.70
- Andy Daines (NZL) Spring Panorama 61.40
- Wilhelm Enzinger (AUS) Britannica MVNZ 62.20
- Emily Gray (AUS) Jocular Vision 77.10
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