Tim Price. Photo / Libby Law.
Tim Price and Wesko have ridden a superb clear cross country this morning to hold on to their lead at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4 Three Day Event in the United States.
Persistent wind and rain didn't stop the Kiwi eventer, who has a slender .4 of a penalty point lead over the Olympic, world and European champ Michael Jung (GER) who sits in second on LA Biosthetique - Sam FBW and third on Fischerrocana FST.
"That was good," said Price, who took an option early in the Derek di Grazia-designed course. "The last couple of years he has been a very honest horse. When he was coming up through to advanced level he had a couple of blips at little questions like that (where he took the longer option today), so I just thought it was one place to mind myself a little bit as it's early on.
"He was fresh and can catch them out a little bit at the hollow - I just had a bit of a gut feeling and he's very quick on the long way round, he's tight on his turns and still had plenty of gas in the tank."
The 12-year-old Dutch warmblood, who last year won the CCI4* at Luhmuhlen, were held on course while a jump was fixed ahead of them, but were all class on their way home.
It most certainly a day of two halves for the Kiwis though. Emily Cammock and Dambala rode a brilliant clear round with 11.2 time faults, that saw them move from 38th to 18th after the cross country.
However, she has to withdraw him from tomorrow's all-important showjumping phase.
"After the second to last fence I felt something wasn't quite right and as we pulled up at the end of the course it was obvious we had a problem," said Cammock via a FaceBook message.
"It appears that the deep ground has proven too much for an old suspensory injury and he has had to be withdrawn. With plenty of drugs on board he is feeling OK, but we are all feeling pretty sombre."
The conditions had been challenging for the Gisborne-bred grey, but Cammock said he had stepped up and given her a fantastic round.
"He slipped badly on take off at the second fence and I saw the ground approaching rapidly. Luckily he regained his balance and the saddle tight glue kept me on board. After that, the course was a pleasure to ride."
Of the 71 starters, here were just six combinations clear and inside the optimum time, with 26 going clear but picking up time faults, 15 eliminated and 10 retired on course.
Price and Jung are both in the leading Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, in a composite New Zealand, Germany, Ireland and Australian team.
More than 31,500 spectators were on hand to watch some of the world's best eventers compete at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Results (after dressage and cross country phases): Tim Price (NZL) Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicate) 36.3 1, Michael Jung (GER) LA Biosthetique - Sam FBW 36.7 2, Michael Jung (GER) Fischerrocana FST 39.3 3, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Bay My Hero 46.9 4, William Levett (AUS) Improvise 48.6 5, Boyd Martin (USA) Master Frisky 48.6 6, Phillip Dutton (USA) Mighty Nice 50.4 7, William Coleman (USA) Obos O'Reilly 52.4 8, Phillip Dutton (USA) Fernhill Cubalawn 54.1 9, Colleen Rutledge (USA) Covert Rights 54.3 10, Emily Cammock (NZL) Dambala 67.9 18.