The British-based horses flew to the US yesterday (15 April) for Kentucky (22-26 April) and Superstition, owned by Harry and Mandy Gray, and Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht were the two who took the plane for the Meade stable.
That leaves Mandy Gray and Harry’s Et Hop Du Matz, the Oppermans’ Cavalier Crystal and Annaghore Valoner (owned by Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Juliet Carter) as the entries for Harry Meade at Badminton Horse Trials (6-10 May).
Both Superstition and Grafennacht have previous good form at Kentucky. Superstition was fifth there in 2021 and Grafennacht landed fourth place last year.
Et Hop Du Matz and Annaghmore Valoner make their Badminton debut, though both have top-four placings at other five-stars to their names.
Cavalier Crystal is the most experienced of Harry’s Badminton trio – she was fourth at Badminton last year, finishing on her dressage score, and has been third at Defender Burghley Horse Trials three times.
Five British horses at Kentucky five-star
The other British entries for the five-star at Kentucky this year are Galileo Nieuwmoed, ridden by David Doel, Brookfield Quality, with Tom McEwen, and Plot Twist B with Kentucky first-timer Tom Jackson.
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Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy, who is based in Devon, also travels to the event with Pomp N Circumstance, as does Dorset-based New Zealander Tim Price with Vitali and Global Quest.
The home side’s Buck Davidson is the latest withdrawal from Kentucky, with Cooley Candyman. Buck still starts on the experienced Sorocaima.
There are 31 pairs are set to go to post in the five-star at Kentucky next week. The first horse inspection takes place on Wednesday, the dressage on Thursday and Friday, the cross-country on Saturday and the final horse inspection and showjumping on Sunday. Find out how you can access the Kentucky Three-Day Event live stream.
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
