Oliver Townend, the world number one, is heading to the MARS Badminton Horse Trials (May 8-12) with a great opportunity of clinching the US$350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
Yesterday, Oliver, the world number one, was victorious at Kentucky, USA, on the 10-year-old mare, Cooley Rosalent, which was his 100th five-star start and eighth win at this level, including Badminton in 2009. Last September he triumphed at Burghley on the veteran Ballaghmor Class, twice a runner-up at Badminton and one of two horses he has entered this year, the other being Tregilder.
The bonus, which is famously difficult to achieve, is awarded to the rider who can win consecutively the world’s three major five-star competitions, Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky.
Only two riders have succeeded in the Grand Slam since it was started in 1999: Britain’s Pippa Funnell in 2003 and the German double Olympic champion, Michael Jung, who took the title at Badminton in 2016.
With this added element, what an exciting Badminton we have to look forward to, as we all know how incredibly difficult it is to win one five-star, let alone three in a row.
2024-04-29 14:33:21
#Badminton #Horse #Trials #Congratulations #Oliver #Townend
