2023 Maryland 5 Star winners Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue tackle the main water complex on cross country. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Since the publication of entries and subsequent release of the draw order for this year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*, we have just a few updates as some pairs have firmed up their plans or ill-timed happenings delayed their plans.
Over the last couple of weeks, the 5* entry list has thinned by four: Mia Farley withdrew Phelps shortly after entries came out, citing a minor injury that will keep him on the sidelines for now. Later, Ireland’s Joseph Murphy pulled Belline Fighting Spirit; the pair is still listed on the MARS Badminton entry list and we should be seeing them competing in England. We also saw Harry Meade pull Cavalier Crystal (three-time 5* podium finisher, including a third place at Burghley last fall), most likely in favor of MARS Badminton. He’s got three horses still on the Kentucky list in Et Hop du Matz, Graffenacht and Superstition; all are still cross-entered at Badminton but we will see Harry in Kentucky with some if not all three of these horses — all with a strong shot at the podium.
The most recent withdrawal also comes from Ireland, as 2023 MARS Maryland 5 Star winners Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue will sadly not be making the trek over for their first crack at Kentucky.
“…very unfortunately Salty has suffered a minor setback after his brilliant run in the Grantham Cup [at Thorseby Park] over the weekend, which very sadly means that Kentucky and Badminton are a no go for this year,” Austin’s team posted on social media today. “He’s a horse like none other to me and he owes me absolutely nothing. We always have his best interests at the forefront of our minds and we will give him all the time that he needs to get right. We hope very much and keep our fingers crossed that he will be good to go again in time for the summer season and in the meantime we will give him everything he possibly needs to aid his recovery. It goes without saying that we are all absolutely gutted, he is feeling at his best ever and we were so excited to have the opportunity to have another crack at one of the biggest events in the world. We know his fans will miss watching him just as much as I’ll miss galloping the 5* turf that he thrives on!”
With FEI Eventing World Championships looming in August, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for a strong recovery and a run for the Irish team heading to Aachen this summer.
You can view the current entry lists for both Kentucky divisions, as well as the CSI5* show jumping competition put on by Major League Show Jumping, which will feature all-time greats such as Olympic champion Christian Kukuk (GER), US Equestrian Open champion Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, McLain Ward, Karl Cook and many, many more, here.
EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for all the science-backed nutritional support your horse needs. Learn more about KPP here.
