Tim Price takes the lead at the Rolex Kentucky after cross-country
New Zealand's Tim Price put in a perfect performance on his horse Wesko with a superlative ride in the cross-country on his first time competing in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, with a clean double clear, keeping him in first place going into tomorrow's final show jumping phase.
Germany's Michael Jung, the joint overnight leader, is in both second and third place on his two rides, with Great Britain's William Fox-Pitt in fourth.
Despite the challenging conditions on the course with heavy rain throughout the morning, the riders from nine nations, delighted the 31,500 fans that attended the Kentucky Horse Park for the cross-country phase.
Michael Jung was the first to go of the top three placed riders on his horse Fischerrocana FST, and gave another impeccable ride completing one of only six double clears. This set the bar high for the other chasing riders. Price was the next of the top placed riders to go mid-morning and he was thrilled with his ride finishing within the optimum time, despite being held out on-course due to a fence needing repairs.
Last year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event winner, William Fox-Pitt, was the 65th rider out on course and yet again he showed his world class with a clear round, but picked up 8.4 time penalties dropping him down one place into fourth position. Jung was 67th to go out, and under the now testing conditions, he guided his Olympic and World Champion horse La Biosthetique – SAM FBW to a clear round with just 0.4 of a time fault. This could cost Jung dearly in tomorrow's final show jumping phase if Price can go clear and claim his first Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event title – it will also put him on course for the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize.
TOP STATISTICS
71 horse and rider partnerships started the cross-country phase; 46 finished; 15 were eliminated; 10 retired and only six went double clear.
TOP 5 PLACINGS AFTER DAY 3 CROSS-COUNTRY
1st Tim Price (NZL), Wesko, 36.3
2nd Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique – SAM FBW, 36.7
3rd Michael Jung (GER), Fischerrocanna FST, 39.3
4th William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Bay My Hero, 46.9
5th William Levett (AUS), Improvise, 48.6