Did you watch the Defender Kentucky 5-star three-day event? If so, you saw a big chunk of the British Olympic eventing team hopefuls finish 1-2-3.
Britain has just named its powerhouse short list for this summer’s Paris Games, and it’s no surprise that Kentucky winner Oliver Townend, the world number one, is on it with Cooley Rosalent, as well as Ballaghmor Class, a former Kentucky winner who had to scratch from the Badminton 5-star two weeks after Kentucky.
Oliver Townend and Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Also named were Kentucky runner-up Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, one rail away from victory at Defender, and on the Tokyo Olympics gold medal team with Oliver. World champion Yasmin Ingham, third at Kentucky on Banzai du Loir, was named with him and also was selected with Rehy DJ.
Additionally on the short list are Bubby Upton, who made a miraculous recovery from breaking her back in a fall last year to finish 10th at Badminton with Cola. Emily King, fourth at Badminton with Valmy Biats, has made the cut, along with her mother, Kitty King and Vendredi Biats. Others are Tom Jackson (Capels Hollow Drift), fifth at Badminton and Ros Canter with both Lordships Graffalo, the 2023 Badminton winner, and Izilot DHI, who she retired on cross-country at Badminton.Also on the roster is Laura Collett with London 52, victorious at Badminton in 2022 and a member of the gold medal team in Tokyo.
Britain is definitely the team to beat at the Olympics. Four finalists will be named to the team in late June, though only three will actually be part of the starting order, with one rider as a reserve.