Maryland 5 Star dressage – Tamie Smith and Mai Baum float into lead

Tamie Smith has taken the lead within the Mars Maryland 5 Star dressage, kicking off Mai Baum’s ultimate five-star with a rating of 25.3.

The 18-year-old US eventing legend, who belongs to his authentic rider Alexandra Ahearn and her mother and father Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell, will step down from top-level sport after this weekend.

Tamie pulled off a mistake-free check at this time and earned the primary 10 of the competitors, from floor jury president Christina Klingspor at C, for her ultimate centreline.

Mai Baum is a slender, extraordinarily elegant black gelding by Loredano 2. He and Tamie Smith put in a Maryland 5 Star dressage check which was rhythmic and fluid, with flying modifications so silky clean onlookers barely even seen them.

“That was most likely his greatest check – he’s simply getting higher with age and so robust,” stated Tamie, referencing the truth that the horse gained the CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) right here in 2015, his first season with Tamie, and now returns to do the five-star as his ultimate occasion on the high stage.

“It’ll be his final five-star, so it’s a bit bittersweet nevertheless it felt actually good to really feel that check after all of the exhausting work we’ve been placing in. He seems like he’s a 10-year-old.”

Tamie and Mai Bau ended a 15-year drought for the house aspect within the different US five-star at Kentucky Three-Day Occasion when they gained there final 12 months and had been additionally group silver medallists on the 2022 World Championships. The horse has gained 13 instances internationally in his profession – as soon as with Alexandra earlier than she handed over the reins and 12 instances with Tamie – and has turn into famend for his first-phase prowess, so his lead at this time isn’t any shock.

Brits maintain the opposite two podium locations with only a few extra assessments to go. Oliver Townend lies second on 26.5 with one other veteran, three-time five-star winner Ballaghmor Class, and Bubby Upton is third on Cola, simply 0.2 of a penalty behind Oliver.

Tim Value has moved into fourth for New Zealand along with his double world bronze medallist Falco on 27.4, whereas Dorset-based residence aspect rider Cosby Inexperienced, the in a single day chief on Extremely Suspicious, is now in fifth on her mark of 28.

Finish of day replace: Tamie holds her lead, with Oliver second, Bubby third and Tim fourth. Boyd Martin piloted Tsetserleg TSF into fifth on the conclusion of the section and Cosby Inexperienced is now sixth. 

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the business on a high occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.