Ros Canter was the queen of the dressage phase at Defender Burghley, the first rider of the modern era to hold first and second places at the conclusion of dressage. Yesterday’s ride, Izilot DHI, still heads the leaderboard with the only sub-20 mark (19.9) and, this afternoon, Lordships Graffalo looked magnificent to score 22.0 and lie second.
A visibly appreciative crowd enjoying a sunny afternoon at Defender Burghley were treated to a wealth of superb dressage performances. Scores are tight at the top — only 10 penalties separate the top 18 combinations — promising a thrilling day’s cross-country tomorrow.
New Zealand riders have a great history at Burghley, and Olympian Tim Price and Vitali, who last year set a new dressage record at Defender Burghley, are in third place with 22.3, just 0.3 in arrears of Lordships Graffalo. US-based Kiwi first-timer Monica Spencer is in equal fifth on Artist, a New Zealand thoroughbred off the racetrack, and the Badminton winners, Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, are eighth.
Britain’s Emily King was first into the arena this morning and set the standard with a score of 24.1 on Valmy Biats while triple Defender Burghley winner Oliver Townend is in close contention in equal fifth place on the rising star Cooley Rosalent.
Three French riders are also in the mix: Olympic reserve Gireg Le Coz, seventh on Aisprit De La Loge, team silver medallist Nicolas Touzaint, who burst into tears of joy at the performance of Absolut Gold HDC, ninth, and British-based Gaspard Maksud on the mare Zaragoza, 10th.
Ros explained that bringing Lordships Graffalo to Defender Burghley had always been in her sights after Paris.
“I’m from Lincolnshire, Michele Saul, his owner, is from Lincolnshire, and a nine-minute cross-country course in Versailles didn’t affect him at all.
“It is amazing for him to perform like he did today after all the razzmatazz of the medal ceremony in Paris. When I came out of the arena today, I took my hands off the reins and he just smiled,” added Ros, crediting her trainer Ian Woodhead, “who is a genius”.
Ros admitted that the talented but occasionally spooky Izilot DHI is an unknown quantity amid the high-octane atmosphere of Defender Burghley.
“I haven’t a clue what he will do,” she said candidly. “It’s my job to give him confidence and do the best I can by him. I think the world of him.”
Emily King said the new dressage test C suited Valmy Biats as it contained “breathing spaces. Sometimes I go in all guns blazing and then feel as if I am water skiing.”
She described her mount as “brave and strong” across country. “I will only be watching riders on similar horses, especially at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit [fence 7].”
Rider consensus on American designer Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course is that the first part is intensive but then opens out into a lovely galloping track. Tim Price described it as “a proper Burghley test”.
He said: “Some things look unjumpable at first sight, but I like to trust the designers at these big events and Derek knows what he is doing. He’s putting his mark on Defender Burghley.”
Harry Meade, one of the great cross-country riders, will be first out on the course at 11am on Superstition, the first of his three rides.
The Defender Burghley horses of the future were on show in the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse finals. Gloucestershire-based Mike Jackson looks to have an exciting prospect on his hands with the five-year-old winner, Gwen Meacham and Heather Bell’s Oscar, who took the four-year-old equivalent in 2023. Mike, riding The Chosen One, was also second to 2022 Defender Burghley winner and Burghley Ambassador Piggy March on Lady Aldous, Ann Tolhurst and the March Stud’s Quantum March in the four-year-old final.
Defender Burghley is the established highlight of the summer social season. As well as top-class sport featuring both the most famous horses and riders in the world and up-and-coming stars, in the beautiful and historic setting of Burghley Park, the event offers superb shopping opportunities, delicious food and drink, elegant hospitality options and lots to entertain children and less-horsey members of the family.
Every minute of the action from Defender Burghley is shown live on Burghley TV: visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk/burghley-tv.
To find out more about Defender Burghley (5-8 September 2024) and to purchase tickets and hospitality, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
The photo of Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo)courtesy of DBHT/Peter Nixon.
Release supplied by event.