Oliver Townend has taken the lead after the Mars Maryland 5 Star cross-country day, with the extraordinary veteran five-star campaigner Ballaghmor Class.
“It’s a proper five-star – for me Maryland is right up there with Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, the others are a level less. This is the top, top of the sport and it’s not easy,” said Oliver after piloting the three-time five-star winner round with 4.8 time-penalties.
“I tried to look after him all the way and ended up a bit slow because of it,” said Oliver, explaining he took a calculated gamble in opting for the long route at the second of the Sawmill Slices – brush corners over a ditch – at 18ab. “And then I looked after him all the way home… we know what he’s done, he’s special.”
Reflecting further on his round and Ballaghmor Class’s return to five-star level after a deep-rooted hoof abscess in the spring, Oliver told H&H: “I’m very, very pleased and relieved with ‘Thomas’ and very happy for his owners Karyn Shuter, Val Ryan and Angela Hislop, who’ve been on an amazing journey with him.
“To have him back at what’s turned out to be a very tough five-star is very emotional for all of us as we always want to do the right thing for him and he’s turned up again and put in another amazing performance. He felt keener than ever and it wasn’t the smoothest round I’ve possibly ever had on him as he was really excited and keen early on, but every time I needed him he locked onto the lines and did his job amazingly, as he always does.
“He seems all ok at the moment and finished probably better than he’s ever finished a five-star in terms of freshness. I minded him most of way and saved him as much as I could. It was always the plan to jump the long route at fence 18 because I was told in the warm-up none of the good horses were sighting the second part at all. I was already ahead of time there and I tried to mind him as much as I could down the hills, but he’s finished fresh and very well.
“Tomorrow’s another day, but I couldn’t be happier with the way he is at the minute so fingers crossed we stay that way. I’m very proud of him and the team behind him who’ve got him back to the level.”
Tim Price and Falco at Maryland 5 Star 2024. Credit: Amy Dragoo
The time-faults Oliver Townend incurred over the Maryland 5 Star cross-country left the door open for world double bronze medallists Tim Price and Falco to slip ahead of him. But the New Zealander’s 7.2 time-penalties on his own and Sue Benson’s horse dropped him into third, behind both Oliver and David Doel, who has moved up to second from 16th after dressage with Galileo Nieuwmoed, having posted the only round inside the time today.
Tim said: “It’s a tough track, a beast of thing. My horse has done quite a lot but only one five-star and no offence but Pau is not a patch on what you’ve got here and the terrain.
“I had to think about my horse – the old adage of riding the horse before the course – and I know the more you hold in reserve at the start, the more you can spend on the way home. He felt fantastic coming home and it’s not just about today, it’s about tomorrow too. Hopefully that’s left us in good stead for a good three phases.”
The last on course, Colleen Loach, could have claimed overnight second for Canada had she gone clear in the time, but FE Golden Eye ran-out at the arrowhead off a bounce distance out of the YANMAR Sunken Road at fence 7abcd and was eliminated after two more problems further round the track.
Bubby Upton has only slipped two places to fifth with Cola, despite incurring 11 penalties for a broken frangible and 12.8 time-faults today, while home side rider Buck Davidson (Sorocaima) sits fourth having had 5.2 time-faults.
Harry Meade was the only Brit to have an unsuccessful day – he pulled up his first ride Away Cruising and then took a fall from five-star debutant Et Hop Du Matz at the triple brush arrowhead out of the Irish Horse Board Coffin Question at fence 12abcd.
Eight pairs of the 21 starters finished today over Ian Stark’s cross-country course – the last one the Scot will design as he is retiring from the role.
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