While Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent started the weekend at the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L a bit down the leaderboard in a tie for eighth after dressage, the world No. 1 can never be ruled out for a five-star win. Townend and “Rosie” climbed the leaderboard yesterday with just .4 time penalties on cross-country, and today they earned a nail-biting win after both the leader, fellow British rider Tom McEwen on JL Dublin, and second-placed Brit Yasmin Ingham on Banzai du Loir, had single rails over Steve Stephens’ show jumping course.
After finishing second and third in the previous editions of the MARS Maryland 5 Star, world no. 1 Oliver Townend is back to try to take the win, and he’s off to a good start with Cooley Rosalent. The pair snuck past Thursday’s leaders Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise (24.2) to take the lead on 23.1 today.