“High Kingdom has improved loads this year, and it has been great to have had the opportunity to really show to everyone what he can do.”
She has ridden the 11 year-old, provided by Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings, throughout his career.”
“Toytown loved the crowds and being at big competitions, and this guy is pretty relaxed and just gets on with it,” said Phillips, who was 2006 world champion on Toytown.
Phillips still faces stiff competition to be a part of the five-strong team for the Olympics which is due to be named in the middle of this week.
Fox-Pitt also triumphed in the full three-day event over a longer cross-country, with new ride Chilli Morning.
Owner Chris Stone sent him to Mary King after concluding long-time producer Nick Gauntlett was not an Olympic contender. But King was eliminated at Belton in April and, finding him too strong, suggested Chilli Morning transfer to Fox-Pitt.
“All the donkey work is done, and I am the lucky one who has got him when he is grown up and established,” said Fox-Pitt.
Pippa Funnell’s London chances seemed over with Redesigned’s injury but is back in the frame after rocketing up the three-day event leaderboard on runner-up Mirage d’Elle, also, sixth at Houghton Hall two weeks ago.
In the short contest, Tina Cook and Miners Frolic, aiming to defend their 2008 Olympic bronze, were faultless across-country, as were first-day leaders Laura Collett and Rayef, with much to prove after eliminations at two recent three-day events.
Selectors Ian Stark, four-times Olympic silver medallist and course-designer at Bramham, Mandy Stibbe and Angela Tucker may also assess the three-star level short competition’s different emphasis to the full four-star Olympic format, and whether sodden conditions skewed results.
Bramham absorbed extra entries after Badminton and Chatsworth were rained off but was itself storm-battered. Grass arenas were unavoidably pulped and 40 per cent of horses had more than four show jumps down.
“You can’t just select on one result and one competition, you have to look at the overall picture,” said British team manager Yogi Breisner.
Despite Chilli Morning’s success, it is risky taking a “new” horse to the Olympics and Fox-Pitt has qualified nine others.
Two horses died of suspected heart attacks in the three-day event – Lead the Way, shortlisted with Clea Phillips for previous championships, and up-and-coming Jagganath (Michael Jackson), who collapsed after a clear round.
0 Responses to "London 2012 Olympics: Zara Phillips jumps her way into Games reckoning on High Kingdom at Bramham - Daily Telegraph"
Post a Comment