2024 GBR-Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Stamford. Saturday 7 September. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Tim Price and Vitali are within a sniff of a 5* victory after an action-packed cross country day at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in the UK. The Kiwi combo sits in second place, just 3.5 penalties adrift of leader Ros Canter (GBR) aboard Lordships Graffalo, with world no.1 Harry Meade (GBR) on Annaghmore Valoner in third, just 2.3 behind Tim.

Both Ros (22 penalty points) and Harry (27.8) were clear and inside time on the Derek Di Grazia (USA) cross country that certainly lived up to expectations. Only four combinations were clear and inside time with a further 28 were clear jumping but added time penalties. Burghley debutant Monica Spence and her off the track thoroughbred are in seventh, having jumped clear and added 8.4 time for their 32.8 penalty point effort.

The course produced a 50% clear rate and 67% completion. Derek said it had been a good day. “It was an exciting day of sport,” said, “with issues on course spread out, which is what you like to see.”

Tim and Vitali lived up to their tag as one of the most reliable cross country jumpers in the sport, improving their 41% clear jumping rate and sit on 25.5 penalty points, having added 3.2 time to their score. He was very pleased with his Tokyo Olympic mount who has previously placed third and fourth at Burghley.

“He was really good,” said Tim. It’s not his first time around these big tracks but this was definitely the best he has felt. He is a real privilege to ride around there because he can go fast across the ground but then you can balance him up at the end.”

Tim is focused on compiling three good phases with the horse. “He has come here in very good form. It will be nice to go out tomorrow and have a jump and hopefully do a good job,” he said. “That’s a good campaign and really that is what it is about.”

Monica was buzzing after her cross country. “I knew I would have to fight the whole way and that is exactly what it felt like,” she said. “The horse is awesome. He kept jumping what was in front of him. He got a little away from me at the end, other than that he was spot on. I am rapt with him.”

Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte were clear jumping but picked up 15.2 time for a day’s end tally of 56.3 penalty points in 24th position. Lauren Innes and Global Fision M added another completion to their CV, coming home clear but with 17.2 time to sit on 59.4 in 27th place. Tim and Viscount Viktor added to their score with jump and time to finish the day on 99.9 while Dan Jocelyn with Blackthorn Cruise are on 114.9 penalty points. Caroline Price retired Greenacres Special Cavalier at fence 12 while Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera were eliminated at 16B.

Forty-three combinations made it round, with 11 retirements and 11 eliminations.
Tonight is the showjumping, and with things so tight at the top of the leaderboard it is going to be interesting. According to Equiratings, Tim has jumped more clear showjumping rounds than any other rider in the field in the last 10 Burghleys . . . fingers crossed he adds another to the tally.

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THE HORSE DETAILS

Horse

Breeding

Owners

Artist

by Guillotine out of Maxamore who is by Volksraad

Spencer Eventing

Blackthorn Cruise

by Vancouver out of Ms Cruize who is by Cruising

Panda Christie and Dan Jocelyn

Cooley Lafitte

by Je T’aime Flamenco out of Graf Shenanigans who is by Scirocco Delle

Jay Jaffar

Global Fision M

by Flipper D’Elle HN out of Kantussa who is by Cantus

Innes Family Syndicate

Grappa Nera

by Karandasj out of Cetonette who is by Babalouba)

The Grape Syndicate and Jonelle Price

Greenacres Special Cavalier

by Cavalier Royale out of Greenacres Touch who is by Touchdown

Michelle and Chris Mann and Caroline Powell

Viscount Viktor

by Viscount 22 out of Noble Beauty who is by Nobre

Barbara Cooper, Glynn Norcutt, Ginny Rusher and Tim Price

Vitali

by Contender out of Noble Lady I who is by Heraldic)

Joseph and Alexander Giannamore and Tim Price

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ