Oliver Townend confirmed he has one other thrilling gray five-star prospect in his string as En Taro Des Vernier stepped as much as ship a sub-30 dressage on his first try at this stage at Pau Horse Trials as we speak (Thursday).
Oliver and the 10-year-old, by the late, nice eventing stallion Upsilon, ended the opening day of dressage at Pau Horse Trials in provisional third place on a rating of 29.4.
The gelding, who’s owned by Sir John and Victoria Peace, is one in every of three rides on Oliver’s card at this 12 months’s French five-star, with Loopy Du Loir and Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent to begin their Pau campaigns tomorrow (Friday).
“He’s obtained a pleasant mind and I feel he’s horse for the long run,” mentioned Oliver, recent from Maryland 5 Star victory with Ballaghmor Class, including that he was happy with En Taro Des Vernier’s dressage efficiency.
“He’s a personality. He pretends he’s fizzy and scorching, however he’s lazy and chilly on the identical time, so you may very simply be made to look a monkey by him. However he loves his job and he’s all the time obtained his ears pricked. He’s a little bit of a playboy – for instance, in the event you do medium canter with out a buck, that’s a win.
“He has an incredible angle, loves his cross-country and has jumped to an honest stage.”
“We’ve solely had him for 2 and a half years, and we’re completely satisfied along with his development up to now.”
It’s been a strong opening day for the Brits. Former Pau winner Tom McEwen heads the provisional standings after day one with Brookfield High quality (25.8), and 7 British combos characteristic within the high 10 at this stage.
Fiona Cashel and her personal 16-year-old Creevagh Silver De Haar produced a five-star private better of 29.7 to carry provisional fifth.
“He simply tries so onerous for me – he’s an absolute gem. We used to get 35s the entire time, and he’s simply obtained higher with age,” mentioned Fiona, crediting coach Damien Hallam for the development.
She defined that it has additionally been a case of “being courageous sufficient” to withstand the temptation to do an excessive amount of at an occasion.
“The much less I work him, the higher he’s. I did work him correctly yesterday, however as we speak I haven’t been on him,” she mentioned. “He’s simply grazed and he’s really easy, bless him, he simply comes out and does his factor.”
Kirsty Chabert and Traditional VI are inside touching distance of the leaders in sixth (30), whereas Isabel White and Icarus made a sensible first five-star look to carry eighth on 30.9.
Tom Rowland and KND Metal Pulse are in ninth place after day one; judges rewarded their tidy efficiency with a rating of 31.5.
“It does simply present that in the event you can pull off a mistake-free take a look at, it’s price quite a bit,” mentioned Tom.
Reigning Pau champion Ros Canter, who scooped the 2023 title with Izilot DHI, rounds off the highest 10 at this stage with the primary of her two rides, MHS Seventeen (31.7).
“I used to be satisfied to bits with him,” mentioned Ros, including that that is the 11-year-old Callahan gelding’s first CCI5* and solely his third long-format occasion.
“He undoubtedly obtained a little bit of stage fright, bless him. He’s fairly inexperienced, and he’s obtained a little bit of a suspicious streak. So he went in and each nook he had his handbrake on, and he wanted me to carry his hand rather a lot. However there’s a lot extra to come back.
“We’re solely simply scratching the floor of what he’s going to be able to.”
Day two of Pau Horse Trials dressage begins at 8am UK time (9am native time) tomorrow (Friday).
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