Five of Britain’s best head to Kentucky

Five of Britains’ top eventers are heading to the USA at the end of the month to compete at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (23-26 April 2015).

Defending champion

Last year’s winner William Fox-Pitt is back to defend his title and is leaving nothing to chance, taking three horses.

Alongside his 2014 winning ride Bay My Hero, he will be also competing Parklane Hawk and Freddie Mac. If William takes the title again, it will be his fourth Kentucky victory.

Joining William are his Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) team mates Nicola Wilson and Zara Phillips.

Both are taking their WEG partners, with Nicola riding Annie Clover and Zara onboard High Kingdom. Nicola is also entered with Lambert’s Watermill Vision.

Good combinations

Francis Whittington, who enjoyed the biggest win of his career at Blenheim at the end of last season,is competing with Easy Target.

American-based BritJames Alliston doesn’t have quite so far to travel, andis entered with Parker and Tivoli.

Eventing performance manager Yogi Breisner said: “Rolex is a very prestigious event and it’s exciting to go there with so many good British combinations.”

FEI Classic

Kentucky is the third leg in the FEI Classics, which brings together the six four-star eventing competitions currently on the calendar. The rider with the highest number of points at the end of the series wins a $40,000 bonus.

The US event is also part of the Rolex Grand Slam, where any rider who can consecutively win Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley is awarded $250,000. Pippa Funnell is the only rider in its 16-year history to achieve such a feat.