Clarke Johnstone and Orient Express produced a consistent and polished dressage test on day 1 of the World Cup

Event at the Kihikihi International Horse Trial to finish on a score of 45.7 penalties, barely a whisker ahead of visiting Australian rider Chris Burton (Holstein Park Leilani) on 45.9 penalties.

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Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General finished in third place on 46.8 penalties after the horse made a couple of uncharacteristic errors which robbed them of a better score. Australian Shane Rose and the talented Taurus and Alice Montgomery and Gordon finished fourth equal on a score of 50.7 penalties after both producing quality rhythmic tests.

Spectators were treated to a strong display of dressage from the top half of the field. The action switches tomorrow to the cross-country when riders will tackle John Nicholson’s testing cross-country track. The tight set of scores after day 1 means that there will be little room for complacency.

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ENDS

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