Phoenix & Pavarotti Press into the Adequan Gold Cup CIC3* Lead at The Fork
It seemed as if Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair would hold their Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* lead through the better part of Friday, when halfway through the division their 41.80 dressage score was still untouched. Phillip Dutton, who has five in the division, nearly unseated Black and ended the day with four in the top ten.
It was finally Canadian Jessica Phoenix on her longtime partner Pavarotti (Pavarotti van de Helle x Fidelia), a 14-year-old Westphalian who bested Black and “Cody” in the last group of the day. Owned by Don Good, the gelding secured a 39.20 in the final group of the three-star division. They were the only pair to score in the 30’s.
“I was so happy with Pavarotti today he really came out and stayed completely relaxed and completely rideable and really performed the way we all know that he can,” she said.
Phoenix has been working to get Pavarotti more relaxed in the flying changes, and his showing today in a full cheek snaffle, as opposed to a double bridle, seemed to do the trick. “He seems to really like it. He felt really happy and really through over his back,” Phoenix said. As for test highlights, she said there were too many to choose from. “Anytime you get to sit on Pavarotti it’s a highlight. He’s one of the most fun horses to ride especially when he’s in the zone like he was today,” she smiled.
Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti.
Today’s atmosphere, amplified by a Champagne Luncheon in the VIP tent, proved too much for many greener horses, but was a non-issue for Pavarotti. “He’s such a competitive horse in his mind,” Phoenix said on his level-headedness. “So when he’s on, he’s unbeatable.”
Phoenix reports that Tremaine Cooper’s cross-country course looks great, and assures that although she withdrew the gelding at Carolina International, she fully intends to run him this weekend as a preparation for either Rolex or Jersey Fresh to obtain Olympic qualification. “The course looks amazing it's really well designed. I think [the reverse direction] is actually great for the fitness of the horses,” she said. “I’m so excited [about the Olympic Games]. It’s a really exciting time to be Canadian. We’ve got a really awesome team shaping up.”
Maya Black & Dawn and Jonathan Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair (Camiros x Oncoeur), finished the day in second place tied with Elinor MacPhail & RF Eloquence (Contender x D-Ginger). Black reported yesterday that she has been working on rideability and self-carriage in the show jumping coming up tomorrow, and you can click here for the full write up on yesterday's dressage leaders.
MacPhail’s ride, RF Eloquence, also known as “Ricky Bobby,” is an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sally Crane. She is using The Fork as preparation for her second try at the four-star in Kentucky this month.
“I felt like he was almost a little dull at Carolina, so I played with the preparation this time and didn’t do as much,” MacPhail explained about her dressage warm up. “This year he’s gotten so much more mature, so I don’t have to do so much.” MacPhail says she also plans to use the jump rounds this weekend to boost the gelding’s confidence saying, “I think it will be a good prep. I’m going to run slow and have a good round.”
Elinor MacPhail and RF Eloquence.
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About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup
Qualifying for the 2016 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Championship began last fall with the Richland Park Advanced & CIC3* (MI), Aspen Farms Advanced (WA), Plantation Field Advanced & CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside International Advanced & CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships, September 1-4 in Tryon, North Carolina. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.
The 2016 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Merck, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, and FITS.
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