Amy Tryon rode Le Samurai forward from the first halt to go into the lead on Friday, April 27, with 47.0 penalties at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****.
The 12-year-old Holsteiner-Thoroughbred cross showed off a lovely extended trot and clear changes. He looked a bit hot and spooky, but Tryon did a masterful job of keeping him focused on the task at hand.
But Great Britain’s Polly Stockton is only .2 penalties behind her with Tangleman. The 17.0-hand chestnut Thoroughbred put in a very solid and accurate test for 47.2 penalties.
Australia’s Clayton Fredericks and Ben Along Time were the first to go in the morning. The runner-up World Champion went into the lead with his test and finished the morning in third place (47.4).
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Ben Along Time showed lovely suspension and suppleness. The 12-year-old Irish gelding received 8s for his first halt and showed extravagant trot work. The canter looked a bit more tense, but it was still accurate and quiet.
The other standout of the morning was Bonnie Mosser and Jenga. They rode a clean, forward test to tie for sixth place (48.7) with Phillip Dutton on Connaught.
Mary King, of Great Britain, didn’t have the test she was hoping for with Apache Sauce. The flashy chestnut Thoroughbred reared in the reinback and appeared to be anticipating the movements throughout the test. She also ran into trouble in the changes when at first he changed early and then didn’t change at all behind. A score of 60.7 penalties left them tied for 19th place with Lauren O’Brien and Dunraths Alto.
Will Faudree had a solid test with Antigua, who at 18 is the oldest horse in the competition. They scored 53.3 penalties to lie in ninth place. Australia’s Ryan Wood scratched Koyuna Azgard, who had been held at the horse inspection on Wednesday, before dressage started.
Only 10 horses remain in the afternoon to finish the dressage portion of the competition.
