Kiwi Eventers Chasing 5* in Maryland

Kiwi Eventers Chasing 5* in Maryland

Tim Price and Hayley Frielick will fly the New Zealand flag high at the Maryland 5* in the United States this week.
The event, one of just seven CCI5* events in the world, is in just its second year and has attracted a starry 26-strong field that also includes former world no.1 Oliver Townend (GBR) with As Is who will be keen to set the record straight after a rather forgettable World Champs.
World no.1 Tim will contest the 5* aboard the 10-year-old Selle Francais Coup de Coeur Dudevin who was second in the CCI4*-L at Millstreet earlier this year.
“I have always had him earmarked for this competition but getting all the ducks in a row and making sure it was the right decision took a little bit longer,” said Tim. “He was my runner-up horse for the World Champs so was in camp with Falco. He is a terrific cross country horse and I think the track should suit him out there.”
Tim is keen to support the new event and welcomes the addition to the 5* calendar. At the inaugural event in 2021 he and Xavier Faer finished third, just 3.3 penalty points off winner Boyd Martin (USA) aboard On Cue.
The Swiss-born horse is by Top Gun Semilly out of Tiebreak Combehory, who is by Leprince des Bois.
Hayley Frielick has not long made the move to the United States from her former base in Australia. “The plan was always to come over for Maryland,” says the 29-year-old. “I hope I am not jinxing him but I think the track will suit him.”
She’s talking about her 12-year-old thoroughbred gelding Dunedin Black Watch who will make his 5* debut at the event. The gelding, who is by Dylan Thomas, out of Love First, who is by Lonhro, was third last year in both the 4*-L at Sydney and 4*-S at Wandin.
“He loves a hilly, twisty course and usually just eats them up, so hopefully this will suit his way of going.”
She got Black Watch off the track six years ago. “He is a typical thoroughbred who wants to try too hard all the time but has been great – every time we step up he just keeps surprising us. He’s not the most conventional in how he does things but is getting more sensible and better as he matures.”
As well as Black Watch in the 5* Hayley has a catch ride on Excel Star Stephen’s Green in the Young Horse Event Five-Year-Old.
The four days of competition start with the dressage on Thursday and Friday, followed by the Ian Stark-designed cross country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday.
Five star is the highest level of competition, and there are just seven events on the world eventing calendar.
 
WHAT: Maryland 5* at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory
WHERE: Fair Hill, Elkton, Maryland, United States
WHEN: October 13-16, 2022
MORE INFO: www.maryland5star.us
ENTRIES: https://md5star.horseeventorganizer.com/EntryList?Show=md5s000172479
 
The horse details –
Coup de Coeur Dudevin – owned by Jean-Louis Stauffer
Dunedin Black Watch – owned by Kathryn Robertson
Excel Star Stephen’s Green – owned by Eden Dedrick