Stats: age 30, West Grove, Pa.
Neville Bardos: ch. g., 16.1 hands, 11 years, Australian-bred Thoroughbred (Mahayaa—Zambia), owned by Windurra USA LLC, West Grove, Pa.
In 2007, they placed fourth in the Dansko Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.). In 2008, they finished ninth at Rolex Kentucky, seventh in the Red Hills CIC***-W (Fla.) and eighth in The Fork CIC***-W (N.C.). Last year, they won the Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.).
Jimmy’s Prediction: Two years ago, Boyd jumped up his horse’s neck at The Head of the Lake so badly that he knocked himself out. When he regained consciousness, the jump judge asked him if he knew what happened. Boyd replied that an unknown assailant dressed in golfing plus-fours had jumped out of the crowd and cold cocked him with a nine iron. When last seen, the unknown assailant and O.J. Simpson were on the back nine at Boca Grande looking for the real Boyd Martin. Boyd has been cleared to ride here this year because the FEI is unable to determine how to diagnose an Australian’s brain injury. None of this will keep Neville Bardos from toting Boyd to a top-five finish.
Remington XXV: dk. b. g., 16 hands, 14 years, Hanoverian (Rubenstein I—Hauptstutbuch), owned by Henley House Stables, Coatesville, Pa.
Last year, they ran sixth at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.) and the Dansko Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.), and they placed fifth at the Plantation Field CIC*** (Pa.) and 14th at The Fork CIC*** (N.C.). This spring, they placed third in an advanced division at Pine Top (Ga.) and 10th in the advanced at The Fork.
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Jimmy’s Prediction: Boyd has the same chance of winning Rolex on this horse this year as he did last year. What’s that you say? He wasn’t here last year? I rest my case.
Rock On Rose: ch. m., 16 hands, 10 years, U.S.-bred Thoroughbred (Ambers Lust—Dorado), owned by Bruce Davidson, Unionville, Pa.
Last year, they finished 11th at the Bromont CCI*** (Que.), fourth in the Jersey Fresh CIC*** (N.J.) and fourth in the Richland Park CIC*** (Mich.). This spring, they placed sixth in an intermediate division at Pine Top (Ga.), third in the advanced at The Fork (N.C.) and 11th in an advanced at Southern Pines (N.C.).
Jimmy’s Prediction: Rock On Rose, or “Lusty” to her friends, has her work cut out for her this weekend. But she’s a talented mare, and I expect her to finish within a few points of her dressage score. Boyd has obviously replaced Buck as my lightning rod, wouldn’t you say? Some guys have all the luck.
