Articles: Horse News
King Earns Double-Victory at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone
Mary King rode Kings Temptress to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,
presented by Bridgestone. (Michelle Dunn photo)
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King Earns Double-Victory at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by
Bridgestone
Lexington, Ky., May 1,
2011 In front of 15,743 fans and a live NBC television audience,
Mary King of Great Britain became the first rider ever to finish
first and second in the CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day
Event, presented by Bridgestone. She rode both Kings Temptress
(47.7) and Fernhill Urco (49.7) to perfectly faultless show jumping
rounds to win the Rolex watch that goes to the winner.
Sinead Halpin, of Gladstone, N.J., also galloped to a faultless round to
claim third place on Manoir De Carneville (53.1), making her the
highest-placed American rider and the Rolex/USEF Four-Star Champion.
William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, the 2007 Rolex Kentucky winner, guided
Neuf Des Coeurs to fourth place (54.0), while Clayton Fredericks of
Australia, the 2007 Rolex Kentucky winner, dropped to fifth place when Be My
Guest lowered one rail (57.0).
King, 49, said that shed felt so excited last night, after riding her horses
to the two top spots, that she had to watch a movie on TV at 2:00 a.m. But
she said she didnt get nervous as the riders who were placed behind her
completed their show jumping rounds.
I was fairly calm, actually, she said. I always feel with a three-day event
that the cross-country is the big day and that today whatever will be will
be in the show jumping. You just hope that they pick up their feet and it
all works out.
King had been worried on Saturday afternoon that Fernhill Urco might not
jump as well today as usual, because he was quite tired after completing his
first four-star cross-country course. The 10-year-old gelding was bred in
Portugal, not a common nursery for international event horses. But he never
touched a rail.
So when King returned to the ring on Kings Temptress, she had the luxury of
knowing that shed already won. Plus, she could afford to knock down a rail
in her second round and still claim first and second places.
King bred Kings Temptress, 11, out of a mare she had competed at the lower
levels until she suffered a severe injury. Rolex Kentucky was the third
four-star event for Kings Temptress.
Halpin, 29, worked for Fox-Pitt in England during 2008-2009, seeking to gain
more expertise and experience. She had previously trained with former Rolex
Kentucky winners Karen and David OConnor, who recommended that she train
with Fox-Pitt. This was the first four-star start for both Halpin and Manoir
De Carneville.
I couldnt get him to teach me to save my life, so I just rode next to him,
said Halpin with a laugh. She said that watching Fox-Pitt taught her to ride
more by instinct, instead of over-thinking everything.
Said Fox-Pitt of Halpin, She came with all the talent in the world but with
a bit of tension and over-keenness to be good. I felt very proud watching
her to jump today and proud to have finished behind her.
Fox-Pitt was also proud of Neuf Des Coeurs, 10, competing in his first
four-star event. Going into the show jumping, you never quite know. Theres
so much to look at in that
arenamore than they see back in the U.S.
Kso I didnt know what he might do, said Fox-Pitt, 42. He really rose to the
challenge yesterday, and he did his best again today. Im thrilled with him.
Sundays attendance (15,743) brought the four-day Rolex Kentucky Three-Day
Event attendance to 62,886.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM and
features the worlds best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000
in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of
Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky,
Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley four-star events in
succession.
Further information on the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by
Bridgestone, is available at the Rolex Kentucky website (www.rk3de.org).
This year, the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup made its debut alongside the Rolex
Kentucky Three-Day Event. For the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup visit
www.KentuckyReining.com. Total reining attendance was 6,782, making the
total weekend attendance 69,668.
Follow Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone and the
Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup online at:
www.facebook.com/RolexKentucky
www.twitter.com/RolexKentucky
www.youtube.com/RolexKentucky
www.facebook.com/KentuckyReining
www.twitter.com/KentuckyReining
www.youtube.com/KentuckyReining
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