Top Kiwi equestrians are heading to Kentucky this week to compete in 5* eventing and showjumping.
Eventing riders Tim Price and Monica Spencer will contest the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L, while Uma O’Neill lines up in the CSI5* showjumping.
Tim did his first Kentucky 5* in 2015 and has twice placed second and once third. This year the World Number 4 is excited to be taking both Vitali and Global Quest.
“I feel these two horses are fit and ready to go,” he said. “It is interesting to have Vitali somewhere other than Badminton and Burghley, which he has been doing for these last few years.”
Sixteen-year-old Vitali has a 100% record for finishing in the top 10 across his eight 5* starts, with his best effort second at Burghley in 2024. Tim’s horse at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, he is ranked among the world’s top 10 eventing horses and won the Advanced at his last prep run at the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park two weeks’ ago while Global Quest finished second.
“I always love Kentucky,” he says. “It is a great event, and I am hoping to go and have a good show.”
Global Quest was produced by the late Georgie Campbell and been with Tim since 2024, doing their first 5* at Pau last year.
Monica and Artist have place seventh (2024) and eighth (2025) at Kentucky, and she’s hopeful it will be “third time’s a charm” for the US-based combo.
“We are excited to be heading back to Kentucky, especially to gallop across that blue grass,” she said. “Max is feeling better than ever. I’d love to reach for the podium this year.”
There are now 30 combinations on the star-stacked 5* start list, including World Number 1 Harry Meade (GBR) and Number 2 Boyd Martin (USA) – both of whom have claimed top three previously. Also in the mix are Tom Jackson (GBR), Caroline Pamukcu (USA), Will Coleman (USA) and Tom McEwen (GBR) while Alex Conrad is one of the 5* first-timers here.
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