When the dust settled after the second day of dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, a British rider sat atop the leaderboard, though it was a different one than had led the competition on Thursday. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin scored a 24.6 to move ahead of countryman and overnight leader Yasmin Ingham on Banzai Du Loir (26). Tied for third with a score of 30.6 are two Americans, Elisabeth Halliday on Cooley Nutcracker and Lauren Nicholson on Vermiculus.
Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI sit in sixth on 31, while Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent are in equal eighth on 31.4.
Organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) features one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world. The event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, the event also features the Cosequin® Lexington 4* and Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.
JL Dublin, the 13-year-old bay Warmblood gelding owned by James and Jo Lambert & Deirdre Johnston, known affectionately as “Dubs,” came out with purpose and laid down an error-free test to take the lead.
“We feel super lucky to be here and it’s all thanks to the owners,” McEwen said. “‘Dubs’ been on amazing form all year, and today’s test really showed that. We have produced a little better [scores in the past], but if you can perform on not-so-great days and still come out like that, you’re good.”
Dubs is famously the previous mount of British team rider Nicola Wilson, who suffered a career-ending injury in 2022 and passed the ride on to McEwen, who is quick to give all credit for their top performances to Wilson.
“For sure it’s all down to Nicola; she’s done all the work for me,” he said. “I’m really lucky and fortunate to have a 5* horse after all the hard work and training has been put in, and I get to play and tinker around with the movements to get the scores. But it takes hours of work no one ever sees so you can perform on a stage like this.”
Ingham and the 13-year-old chestnut Selle Français gelding owned by The Sue Davis Fund and Janette Chinn had held off challengers all day but was caught at the end by McEwen who was the fourth-last pair to compete.
The two Americans tied for third (and also tied for the lead in the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian) are in very different places of their mounts’ careers, but they are equally pleased with their horse’s performance today. Cooley Nutcracker is only 10, and the handsome black Irish Sporthorse gelding owned by The Nutcracker Syndicate is at the beginning of his 5* career. Meanwhile Vermiculus, who is competing at his seventh 5*, is closer to the end of his, though the 17-year-old bay Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars certainly looked as fit and ready to run as any horse in the field.
“I was really thrilled with him,” Halliday said of Cooley Nutcracker. “He’s a young horse very much in the making still, so for him to be in the top three with what I wouldn’t consider the ‘finished product’ sort of test, I’m really thrilled.
“He definitely noticed the cameras,” she continued. “And I was glad I went after the break because he definitely noticed the crowd cheering earlier in warmup. He’s a horse I believe so much in and I’m absolutely thrilled with him today.”
Vermiculus sat out much of last year, and Nicholson said he was excited to be back at the Kentucky Horse Park. “He’s let us know how pleased he is to be here. He’s actually been the wildest he has ever been. I’m thankful for Sally, my groom, because he’s not the type where you can ride him until he’s obedient; he’s got quite the personality and only tolerates so much drilling and training. So, it’s a collaborative effort getting the right amount of schooling and keeping him happy. It’s taking him out all the time for grass and a lot of groundwork with him, which keeps him interested and busy without drilling him on the flat.
“He’s an Arab cross so you’re never going to wear him out. I was pleased it came together well because he felt extremely fresh in ring, and it’s a fine line between impressive and airs above the ground,” she finished with a laugh.
The standings heading into Saturday’s cross-country are incredibly close, with only five points separating the top ten and ten points separating the top 15. Fifth-placed Sharon White (USA) and Claus 64 stand only 0.1 behind Nicholson and Halliday. Course designer Derek di Grazia is known for building tracks that are tough but fair, and the tight scores after the first phase guarantee that the competition is far from over.
“The first time I walked it, I was worried because I wasn’t worried, and Derek is rarely that simple,” Nicholson said. “He rewards good riding and doesn’t punish horses — if you make a mistake, they don’t leave with their egos busted. It’s a different sort of Derek track than we typically see, but it’s on the same theme of ride well, and it will ride well.”
Cross-country starts on Saturday with the CCI4*-S at 9 a.m. ET and the CCI5*-L at 1 p.m. ET. The competition then culminates on Sunday with the show jumping phase to determine the winners.
Livestream and TV broadcasts
All competitions held as part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ – the CCI5*, Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, and Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute – can be watched live on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. The link is also available through the event website at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com. The livestream is available free of charge worldwide to USEF fans and members. Anyone can become a fan and watch the event free by registering as a “Fan” at www.usef.org/fan. ClipMyHorseTV premium subscribers can also watch the event.
Further information about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S, and the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/.
Press release supplied by event. Images courtesy of Michelle Dunn Photo
