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The third leg of the FEI Classics in Kentucky is underway (24-27 April), with some of the biggest names in eventing battling it out for the coveted title.
Title defender
There are more than 70 riders from eight nationsentered for the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
Andrew Nicholson is back to defend his title, having won both Kentucky and the FEI Classics last year. As his 2013 winning ride Quimbo is heading to Badminton in May, the Kiwi eventer will be on Avebury this year.
The home-bred grey gelding came first and second at Burghley in 2012 and 2013, but this is the first time he has competed at a CCI4* outside the UK.
As the winner of Burghley, Andrew is the current live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam prize.
Current leader
William Fox-Pitt is one of the riders flying the British flag. He has a record 12 CCI4*s to his name, and is currently the joint leader of the FEI classics – a series he has already won three times. Australia’sChristopher Burton is also in the top spot, but he isn’t entered for Kentucky.
William is competing Bay My Hero and Seacookie TSF, who was the runner-up at Kentucky last year, and who also won the opening leg of this season’s Classics.
Host hopes
The host nation is also hoping for a win, as an American hasn’t won the Kentucky trophy since 2008, when Phillip Dutton took the title on Connaught.
The US rider has three horses entered this year – Mighty Nice, Trading Aces and his new ride Mr Medicott, who was the highest-placed US horse at the London 2012 Olympic Games with Karen O’Connor, and was fourth at the opening leg of this series with Philip.
Big prizemoney
The most senior rider in the field is Sir Mark Todd. The 58-year-old has been competing at Kentucky since 1978, and this year is riding Oloa, who came seventh in his first CCI4* at Burghley, last year.
The FEI Classics encompasses the six four-star competitions on the eventing calendar: Pau, Adelaide,Kentucky, Badminton, Luhmuhlen andBurghley. The five riders with the highest number of points collected at the end of the series share a total prize fund of US$120,000, with US$40,000 going to the champion.
Highlights will be shown on Horse & Country TV at the following times