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Double-clear cross-country rounds at Millbrook Horse Trials are few and far between, but Colleen Rutledge and her homebred Clydesdale/Thoroughbred Covert Rights blazed around Tremaine Cooper's course to become the new leaders in the Adequan USEA PRO Tour Series Advanced division.
"CR had a great run today at Millbrook. It's exactly the run that I wanted to have before heading overseas," Colleen said. "He was absolutely locked on to the fences. He made my job incredibly easy for being in the right place at the right time for every fence."
The 9-year-old gelding finished 11th at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* in April and he will be tackling his second CCI4* at Burghley Horse Trials in England one month from now.
"I'm completely thrilled with how well he's reading the questions now. He's just matured so much in the past year that it's really fantastic for both of us. On cross-country he's such a machine," Colleen said.
"We were laughing when I came back that he almost felt casual. He was so laid back and so relaxed about it yet also reading the questions. It was that perfect mix of aggression and really wanting to jump the fences and not making me have to ride to them. A happy gallop all the way around."
Fifty-four horses left the start box and 51 completed the course on what guest commentator Danny Warrington called a "great day for the sport." There were 48 clear rounds, and in addition to Colleen, Maya Black and her pocket rocket Doesn't Play Fair, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Dawn Dofelmier, were the only ones to go double-clear, an effort that moved them up to third place.
Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless were the leaders after dressage, but 3.2 time penalties dropped them down to second place. Likewise, Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM picked up 4.0 time penalties, moving down one place to fourth. Lynn Symansky and Donner dropped from second place to fifth.
A fast and clear round at Millbrook almost guarantees an improvement on the leaderboard and we saw several big moves today. Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Fly Me Courageous vaulted up from 26th to 8th with 1.2 time penalties. Similarly, Nilson Moreira da Silva and Muggle moved from 30th to 12th, and Holly Payne Caravella's off-the-track Thoroughbred, Never Outfoxed, launched from 40th after dressage to tied for 13th.
The scores at the top are still very close, and there is plenty of work to do during Marc Donovan's show jumping test tomorrow when competitors will jump in reverse order of standing to determine the final results.
There will be great entertainment prior to the start of the afternoon Advanced division with the popular PRO 4-Bar Jump-Off sponsored by Triple Crown. Jennie Brannigan and Will Faudree will represent PRO and compete against two Millbrook Hunt representatives as they vie for $1,500 in prize money, which will be divided equally between the winning rider, horse owner and a charity of choice.
If you're in the area, don't miss the Farm Fresh Breakfast and Benefit Luncheon in the VIP tent overlooking the show jumping arena.
About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series
Qualifying for the 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2015 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.
The 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two, Dubarry, and FITS.
The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada, featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board.
The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2015 PRO Tour Series: KER Optimum Time, Tex Sutton, Triple Crown Nutrition, and SSG Riding Gloves.
