Zara Phillips drawn 66th for her Rolex Kentucky debut
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (23-26 April) draw has been released.
Eight British horses are entered. Zara Phillips (High Kingdom) will make her Kentucky debut at number 66, while fellow first-timer Francis Whittingon (Easy Target) will sport 32.
William Fox-Pitt is all about the “twos”, having been drawn as numbers two (Parklane Hawk), 42 (Freddie Mac) and 82 (Bay My Hero) — but he plans to actually start with just the latter pair, with Parklane Hawk heading to Badminton.
Nicola Wilson will therefore be the first Brit to enter the dressage arena as she is number eight with Watermill Vision and 77 on Annie Clover.
Finally US-based Brit James Alliston will wear 13 with Parker and 85 for Tivoli.
All eyes will be on numbers 10 and 84 — German superstar Michael Jung kicks off as number 10 with world individual silver medallist FischerRocana FST and 84 on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, the individual world champion here in 2010.
For the home side, Buck Davidson, Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton all have three horses. Buck is six (The Apprentice), 45 (Petite Flower) and 86 (Ballynoe Castle RM). Boyd claims number three with Pancho Villa, 47 with Cracker Jack and 88 with Master Frisky. Phillips sports four (Fernhill Fugitive), 44 (Fernhill Cubalawn) and 87 (Mighty Nice).
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Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville, the 2012 Burghley runners-up, have a fairly early start as number 27. Among other favourites, New Zealand’s Luhmühlen winners Tim Price and Wesko wear 55.
The USA’s Colleen Rutledge is the pathfinder on Shiraz, the only horse in the world who has completed all the northern hemisphere four-stars.
Three horses have been withdrawn, taking the start list from the record entry of 91 down to 88 at present. Jon Holling has broken his leg so has withdrawn Zatopek B, Buck Davidson is taking Copper Beech to Tattersalls CCI3* instead and Zach Brandt (Cavallino Cocktail) is the third withdrawal.
With two weeks to go, it’s likely a few more horses will be pulled before the trot-up on 22 April.
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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.