Izzy Taylor (GBR) Monkeying Around – CCI-L4* – The SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials 2019. Photo:Adam Fanthorpe
Izzy Taylor, who lives just 10 minutes away from the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials on the outskirts of Bicester, holds the lead in the principal CCI4*-L class after two days of high-class dressage.
Riding her own and Mark Sartori’s eight-year-old Monkeying Around, Izzy scored a superb mark of 22.7.
“I’m very happy with him,” said Izzy. “I’ve had him since he was a four-year-old – it makes a massive difference when you can have them from the word go. He’s young to be here, but we hope to be competitive and hope still to be on the same score tomorrow.”
“Because I live so close, it means my children can come and watch and it makes the event very special – it is the most beautiful setting.”
Izzy has 2.7 penalties in hand over second-placed Piggy French, who scored 25.4 aboard Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s 10-year-old Brookfield Inocent. Young British rider Will Rawlin, who was on top after the first day of dressage with a mark of 24.2 with VIP Vinnie, has withdrawn as he didn’t feel the horse was 100%.
Eventing is a truly international sport, and top Japanese rider Kazuma Tomoto is in third with 25.7 on Brookpark Vikenti, while Australia’s Kevin McNab is a fraction of a penalty behind in fourth with 25.7 on Scuderia 1981 A Best Friend.
Piggy, the 2019 Badminton winner and part of Britain’s silver medal-winning team at the recent European Championships, is in the form of her life and is also in the lead in the highly competitive CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses at Blenheim aon Jayne McGivern’s nine-year-old Calling Card. The podium placings in this class remain unaltered from the first day of dressage.
Piggy said: “He’s a really beautiful horse – he’s stunning. Bar his changes, which he’s still a bit green at, he’s very impressive on the flat. He was beautiful to ride in there. He is green – this will be his first Advanced competition – and so I’ve come into it just really interested to see how he goes, and not really thinking that running flat out and getting the time will be what he’ll do this weekend. It’s more about the stepping-stone.”
British-based Australian Sam Griffiths is in second with Viscount and Lady Rothermere’s Freestyler on a mark of 28.8.
“Lady Rothermere bought him for herself to ride, and wanted a bit more mileage on him, so I’ve been riding him for about a year now,” said Sam. “He’s a really good jumper and a nice horse to have.
“This class is like an unofficial championship – if you have a horse who goes well here, you know you’ve got a good one.”
Mary King is in third with her own and The Kings Group’s King Robert II on 29.6. Chris Burton (Clever Louis) and William Fox-Pitt (Georgisaurous) joined Oliver Townend and Dreamliner in fourth place with a score of 29.7.
SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials continues tomorrow (Saturday, 21 September) with cross-country for the CCI4*-L class and showjumping for the CCI4*-S.
David Evans’ cross-country course has been well-received by riders, with Izzy Taylor commenting that there was “plenty to do out there, but it’s very fair”.
To listen to downloadable audio interviews with David Evans and all of the top riders competing at SsangYong Blenheim Palace, including Zara Tindall, please visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk/interviews.
As well as the feature CCI4* classes and a host of competitions for amateur riders, SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials features excellent, carefully selected, shopping opportunities. There is a full and varied programme in the Attractions Arena on Saturday and Sunday, superb children’s entertainment and great food, ranging from outlets offering locally produced to a range of dining packages. Visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk to book tickets and for further information.
