There couldn’t be more pressure than entering the biggest three-day event in North America in first place, and sadly, that pressure got to Kristin Bachman today, April 29, as the 35-year-old went off course in Lexington, Ky., after having a rail down at fence 8, the planks.

Gryffindor had been jumping handily for Bachman, who entered the arena with a rail in hand. But after lowering the plank gate at fence 8, Bachman turned left to the triple bar at fence 10, instead of going right to fence 9.

Her momentary loss of concentration gave the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** win to Clayton Fredericks of Australia and Ben Along Time, who had entered show jumping in third place but jumped a clear round, incurring only 1 time penalty. Fredericks won the individual silver medal at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, and his wife, Lucinda, won last fall’s Burghley CCI**** (England).

“When I watched [the first horses], I thought I was going to be one of those who took a lot of rails,” said Fredericks. “But when I sat on Ben, he felt brilliant. I jumped very few fences before I went in. I think Wayne Roycroft [the Australian team coach] was questioning the fact that I hadn’t jumped a lot. But [my horse] has a fantastic temperament and just that star quality. He tried his guts out. The more I pushed him into the fences, the more he backed up and tried harder.”

Heidi White Carty had entered show jumping in second place, without a rail to spare after Fredericks jumped a nearly flawless round. But White and Northern Spy lowered the vertical at fence 4, then incurred 7 time penalties to drop to fourth. 

Phillip Dutton, riding at Rolex Kentucky for the first time as a U.S. citizen, placed second aboard Connaught, who incurred just 2 time penalties for his best placing at a four-star. Dutton has been agonizingly close to the Rolex title before, finishing second several times, but this was the first time he won the U.S. Equestrian Federation CCI**** Championship as the top-placed U.S. rider.

But the biggest cheers seemed reserved for Karen O’Connor on Theodore O’Connor, the first pony to compete at Rolex Kentucky. The pair finished in third place after jumping one of the day’s double-clear rounds, and O’Connor hopes the crowd favorite will be considered for this summer’s Pan American Games in Brazil.

“He’s a really special horse, and he gives everyone hope,” said O’Connor. “He has no idea he’s small. If you ever leave the ground with him over a jump, you realize he’s a giant.”

The only other double-clear round was posted by Lauren O’Brien and Dunraths Alto, who finished seventh.

Other top honors included: top owner-rider: Heidi White/Northern Spy; top young rider: Sara Mittleider/El Primero; best conditioned: Theodore O’Connor/Karen O’Connor; best turned-out: Cavaldi/Kristin Schmolze.

For Bachman, while her disappointment from the day must be huge, she will surely be back with her talented Thoroughbred.

“There’s an infinite number of ways to get eliminated in this sport, and if you stick around long enough, it’s going to happen,” said O’Connor. “She will never make that mistake again, but he’s a talented horse, and she’s a talented rider, and they will be in that position again.”

1.    Ben Along Time/Clayton Fredericks/AUS 54.0
2.    Connaught/Phillip Dutton/USA 59.1
3.    Theodore O’Connor/Karen O’Connor/USA 60.1
4.    Northern Spy/Heidi White/USA 63.0
5.    Gazelle de la Brasserie/Karin Donckers/BEL 63.6
6.    Koyuna Sun Magic/Wendy Schaeffer/AUS 64.6
7.    Dunraths Alto/Lauren O’Brien/USA 65.1
8.    Direct Merger/Jonathan Holling/USA 66.2
9.    Truluck/Philip Dutton/USA 68.7
10.     Apache Sauce/Mary King/GBR 68.7