Kiwis Set To Fly At Kentucky

Six very strong Kiwi combinations will line up this week at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in the United States, the first of the big global 5* eventing competitions.
World no.2 Tim Price has three on the card in Falco, Happy Boy and Jarillo, Jonelle Price entered aboard Hiarado, their Paris Olympic Games teammate Clarke Johnstone is in on Menlo Park, and Monica Spencer is set to start Artist.

Tim and 11-year-old Jarillo are first out on the opening day of the prestigious competition, one of just seven at 5* level in the world. The combination were ninth at the Pau 5* last year when on debut at top level.

He’s also in with 13-year-old Happy Boy and will be looking for their first 5* completion.
But it is probably Falco who offers his best chance at success. Tim has twice been second at Kentucky and was also third one year, so will be keen to claim that top spot. He and 15-year-old Falco were New Zealand’s best at the Paris Olympic Games with their sixth place finish and last year were second at the Maryland 5* on debut.

“I am really looking forward to Kentucky,” says Tim. “I am excited to have three very nice horses there from varying degrees of experience at this level.”
Heading out as number one was no problem for Tim. “I trust Derek di Grazia’s (cross country) design will give us a nice inviting start to the course and let us build into the rest. My first horse Jarillo is green at that level but he is a really good one.”

It had been a very busy pre-season getting the horses fit and ready for the early 5* competitions. “I think we have done a good job of that and have got nice fit horses ready to go.”
Jonelle has previously placed third at Kentucky and is in aboard her Paris mount Hiarado who was seventh in the Pau 5* in 2023.

“Hiarado has come out this spring really well, feeling more established in her work and brimming with health,” says Jonelle. “I am so looking forward to getting out there and seeing what we can do. It might not be the biggest field but it’s a quality field and will be a good opportunity to see just how competitive we can be.”
Monica and her 14-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred have placed seventh at both Kentucky and Maryland, and 11th at Burghley.

“Kentucky is a spectacular event and we are very excited to be heading back there this year,” says Monica. “Max (Artist) is feeling ready to run!”
For Clarke, it is poignant to be heading back to a very special venue where, as a youngster, he was part of a New Zealand team to win bronze at the World Champs. “I am definitely excited for the first ‘biggie’ of the season,” he says. “I feel very old saying that the last time I competed in Kentucky was 15 years ago at the Worlds in 2010. It was a most fantastic experience and I have been dying to go back to compete there ever since. It is the most beautiful venue with great hospitality.”
Fifteen-year-old Menlo Park was Clarke’s mount at the Paris Games. “He is pretty experienced now, feeling fitter than ever before and very fresh. He’s a great traveller. I am hopeful of putting together three phases to the best of our ability and aim to be very competitive. It will be fantastic to have a strong contingent of Kiwi competitors and supporters there and I am looking forward to a great week.”
The 5* has attracted 38 combinations from Germany, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the States. There are plenty in the field who could rightly claim the Kentucky crown with six of the world’s top 12 eventers on the card.

The first horse inspection is on Wednesday afternoon (US time) followed by two days of dressage, cross country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday. The cross country will be designed by previous Kentucky winner Derek di Grazia.
US-based Kiwi Hayley Frielick will compete in the CCI4* with Sportsfield Lumiere and Dunedin Black Watch.

The event is also playing host to some pure showjumping including the newly elevated $400,000 Kentucky International CSI5* 1.5m featuring Katie Laurie aboard Django II. The showjumping starts on Wednesday with a $35,000 two-phase, followed by a $75,000 1.5m welcome class on Thursday, a $40,000 1.45m speed class on Friday, and the big one, the 1.5m on Saturday after the eventing cross country.

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