Austin O’Connor takes catch experience in $100,000 US eventing showcase

5-star winner Austin O’Connor has jetted again throughout the Atlantic to take a catch experience in a $100,000 (£79,148) eventing grand prix.

Austin, who delivered Eire’s first top-level eventing victory in 50 years at Maryland 5 Star aboard Colorado Blue in October, is contesting the Conceal Grand Prix Eventing Showcase in South Carolina (1 to 2 March).

Cybersecurity firm Conceal is a brand new sponsor for 2024, and prize cash has doubled for this yr.

Dressage and showjumping happen right this moment (1 March), and rivals will deal with the Mark Phillips-designed enviornment cross-country observe tomorrow.

Austin has caught the experience on Carlson 119, a 14-year-old superior horse normally ridden by Amanda Beale Clement and owned by the Get Prepared Syndicate.

“I’m fortunate to be given the chance to experience a horse like him,” mentioned Austin. “The primary factor is to not irritate him, to verify he’s completely happy, and that I don’t change his system. I’ve received to adapt to him, greater than him adapt to me.

“He appears completely happy and assured, so I’m not going to vary issues immediately. It’s a case of protecting him assured and feeling, ‘I fairly like this new man on my again!’”

He mentioned the venue at Bruce’s Area lends itself very properly to the showcase, including: “I can think about it’s going to be an actual crowd-pleaser. It’s virtually a case of 1 seat sees all; I feel it’s a superb format and an important slight variation of the game.”

The cross-country observe covers a number of arenas and includes 29 efforts over 2,275m. Most of the fences are jumped in each instructions.

The high quality startlist options large names and riders from the US, Australia and New Zealand. Boyd Martin and the celebrity five-star and medal-winning campaigner Tsetserleg TSF took an early lead right this moment and Boyd has a number of different high-profile rides to return.

Liz Halliday-Sharp, who was based mostly in Britain for a few years, has three horses among the many starters. Others thrilling names embrace main five-star performers Ariel Grald and Leamore Grasp Plan, in addition to New Zealand’s Monica Spencer with Artist.

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H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound crew in 2015, Lucy has reported from main international sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a couple of. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information throughout the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, business information and courtroom circumstances.