The British rider looked delighted as he completed his test, giving Cooley Rosalent big pats on her neck at the final halt. The mare showed super work throughout the performance, with an uphill outline and impressive movement. Her scores dropped down only for her final flying change, which was late behind and earned a four and two fives.
Oliver received plenty of eights and 8.5s from the ground jury to land a final mark of 23.1. His only nine came from US judge Robert Stevenson at M for his entry, though Brit Judy Hancock at C was less impressed, giving 6.5 for this movement.
“It’s a great start and we couldn’t be happier with Cooley Rosalent – Rosie to her friends,” said Oliver. “She’s only nine but she’s got plenty of experience at the levels below so fingers crossed she’s up to the cross-country challenge, but it looks like a serious course out there.
“I think a few riders were saying too much that it’s a four-and-a-half-star or a kinder five-star, but that isn’t the case this year. It’s pretty huge and there are lots of questions – all fair questions, but there are plenty of them and I think the time will also play a part.”
Oliver has finished second and third at Maryland the past two years and said he couldn’t give enough credit to the Maryland team.
“Everything is as you’d wish a five-star to be,” he commented.
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Oliver’s impressive performance means the three Brits who have made the trip to the US hold the top three spots after the Maryland 5 Star dressage. Piggy March (Brookfield Cavalier Cruise) is in second and William Fox-Pitt (Grafennacht) in third.
It looked like 2021 Maryland winner Boyd Martin, the last rider in, might have challenged the top three during his trot work with the light, elegant mare Contessa, but messy flying changes meant he finished the day in fifth on 28.8. He is the best placed US rider.
Monica Spencer (Artist) and Caroline Powell (Greenacres Cavalier Cruise) have claimed fourth and sixth for New Zealand, with five-star first-timer Jacob Fletcher in seventh on Fabian.
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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.
