Austin O’Connor takes catch journey in $100,000 US eventing exhibit

5-star winner Austin O’Connor has jetted again around the Atlantic to take a catch journey 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 Famous person aboard Colorado Blue in October, is contesting the Cover Grand Prix Eventing Show off in South Carolina (1 to two March).

Cybersecurity corporate Cover is a brand new sponsor for 2024, and prize cash has doubled for this 12 months.

Dressage and showjumping happen lately (1 March), and competition will take on the Mark Phillips-designed enviornment cross-country monitor day after today.

Austin has stuck the journey on Carlson 119, a 14-year-old complicated horse in most cases ridden by way of Amanda Beale Clement and owned by way of the Get In a position Syndicate.

“I’m fortunate to be given the chance to journey a horse like him,” stated Austin. “The primary factor isn’t to aggravate him, to ensure he’s glad, and that I don’t exchange his gadget. I’ve were given to evolve to him, greater than him adapt to me.

“He turns out glad and assured, so I’m no longer going to switch issues straight away. It’s a case of retaining him assured and feeling, ‘I somewhat like this new man on my again!’”

He stated the venue at Bruce’s Box lends itself really well to the exhibit, including: “I will believe it’s going to be an actual crowd-pleaser. It’s nearly a case of 1 seat sees all; I feel it’s a very good layout and a perfect slight variation of the game.”

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

The high quality startlist options giant names and riders from the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Boyd Martin and the famous person five-star and medal-winning campaigner Tsetserleg TSF took an early lead lately and Boyd has a number of different high-profile rides to come back.

Liz Halliday-Sharp, who used to be primarily based in Britain for a few years, has 3 horses a number of the starters. Others thrilling names come with 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 group in 2015, Lucy has reported from primary international wearing occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a couple of Eu Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a couple of. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information around the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, business information and courtroom instances.