How influential was the cross-country?
“The ground gave way and everything just went sideways,” he said, adding that the new grass growth on the track probably didn’t have the same root structure as established turf.
Germany’s first surprise came when Sandra Auffarth’s Opgun Louvo became strong and ran straight past the log in the water at 4d, and she was penalised for crossing her tracks. He then took out a stride between the two angled fish (29abc) in the last water and missed the frog (fence 30), but the 20 penalties initially awarded were later dismissed.
Boyd Martin gave the USA an early fillip with just 3.2 timefaults. He took a couple of long routes on Blackfoot Mystery, who had shown a weakness at brush corners on his final pre-Games outing, but used the ex-racehorse’s speed to make up time.
France’s second rider, Karim Laghouag (Entebbe), had a run-out at 11b, while Clare Abbott (Euro Prince) faulted at the first element here and at the long route at 6a for Ireland.
“I think it unsettled him passing the first corner 6a and he lost a bit of focus — it’s out of character for him to have a blip like that,” she said.
The overnight runner-up, Chris Burton, had to sit tight when Santano II left a leg at the log at 4d, but the young horse really grew in confidence under a beautiful ride from the Aussie and came home bang on the 10min 15sec optimum time.
“I was under team orders to take the long route at fence six,” he said. “But for a horse with very little blood in his breeding he is a rocket.”
Riders and journalists of every nationality were willing dressage leader William Fox-Pitt on. He and Chilli Morning had a wonderful round — controlled, brave and smooth. But hideously, painfully, one small error cost them the individual gold medal.
It came at the Ski Jump at fences 19 and 20ab, where riders tackled a big drop, then went downhill to two skinnies on a curve. Chilli fought a little on the turn to the second and bypassed it to the left.
There was a question over exactly what William was penalised for — was it the initial drive-by, which could have been judged as intentional, or for crossing his tracks as he went to the alternative afterwards? Ultimately, it came to the same thing — 20 penalties and the end of a fairytale gold.
“It was my fault — I went too quick,” said William. “I think Chilli was going quicker than I thought. He didn’t do anything wrong. He’s a lovely horse and riding him round there is a luxury. It’s sad I wasted it.”
Mark Todd and Michael
Jung both delivered the rounds New Zealand and Germany needed to get their efforts back on course.
Michael cruised in 14 seconds inside the time with Sam FBW, one of only two riders all day successfully to take the direct route over the corner of a table and on a very difficult line to a gate at fences 23 and 24.
Mark had two time-faults on Leonidas II, which elevated him from 17th to fourth.
‘He’s a green horse and to jump round that track without a whip was a big ask —
there are a lot of positives to take away ‘
Kitty King
After dropping her whip, Kitty King urges Ceylor LAN on but has a run-out at 11b