A lineup of Thoroughbreds competing this week in Kentucky represents stallions like classic sire Malibu Moon and stalwarts Flatter and Prized. They’ve been bred by prominent domestic and international entities like Betz Thoroughbreds, Machmer Hall, Nawara Stud, Poindexter Thoroughbreds, Sycamore Hall, and Patrice Wolfson.
But these Thoroughbreds won’t be squaring off in a graded stakes race at Keeneland or Churchill Downs. Rather, they’re set to compete in the Kentucky five-star and four-star three-day events from Thursday-Sunday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Eventing is often described as an equestrian triathlon, in which horse and rider pairs compete in dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping. The star system is the equivalent of the grading system in horse racing, representing the level of quality or difficulty of the event. A five-star event is the highest level of difficulty, and there are only seven such events around the world. However, a four-star is not a huge step down in difficulty. In fact, it is the Olympic level, which allows more countries to participate, as some don’t have the infrastructure to run a five-star event or support their athletes traveling to one.
While Thoroughbreds sometimes struggle with the relaxation and obedience demanded in the dressage arena, they are prized in eventing because of their bravery and stamina in cross country, the heart of the competition. There are four full Thoroughbreds entered in this year’s Kentucky five-star, and another 12 in the four-star. Some are past five-star horses, and some are working their way to that level.
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Several other entrants have Thoroughbred blood, as many warmblood breeders infuse Thoroughbreds into their programs to add desirable qualities. For example, the Thoroughbred stallion Heraldik is the broodmare sire of reigning Olympic individual gold medalist FischerChipmunk FRH, one of the favorites to win this year’s Kentucky five-star with Germany’s Michael Jung aboard.
This year’s Thoroughbred five-star entrants, listed alphabetically by the horse’s show name, are Artist, ridden by Monica Spencer; HSH Double Sixteen, ridden by Caroline Pamukcu; Sorocaima, ridden by Buck Davidson Jr.; and Twilightslastgleam, ridden by Jennie Brannigan.
At last year’s Kentucky five-star, Sorocaima was sixth, Artist was seventh, and Twilightslastgleam was 16th, all creditable efforts at a level where just finishing the event is an accomplishment. Last year’s event had 23 finishers, while 12 horses were eliminated or withdrawn for various reasons throughout the competition.
Sorocaima and Twilightslastgleam, two Thoroughbreds with wildly different racetrack profiles, then went on to strong results at the fall’s Fair Hill five-star, the only other event at the level in the United States. There, Sorocaima was fourth and Twilightslastgleam finished sixth.
Sorocaima, known as “Cam” in his barn, is a 14-year-old Rock Hard Ten gelding who was bred by Machmer Hall and Poindexter Thoroughbreds. Sorocaima was a war horse on the track, putting together a record of 43-4-8-2 and earning $82,396.
“He goes to work every day and tries his heart out,” Davidson said at last fall’s Fair Hill event-ending press conference.
Meanwhile, fellow five-star veteran Twilightslastgleam, by National Anthem, was in race training with Elizabeth Merryman. Twilightslastgleam, now 15, shifted gears when he made it clear that racing didn’t suit him, often bucking riders off.
“Usually they go [to the track] as 3-year-olds,” owner-breeder Nina Gardner told U.S. Eventing. “We let them give it a try, and if they seem to take to it, that’s great. But if they don’t, then that’s the time for them to come home and look for other careers.”
The full list of Thoroughbreds entered in this year’s Kentucky four-star are Argyle, ridden by Skyeler Voss; Beautiful Storm, ridden by Jan Byyny; Charmed Victory, ridden by Erin Kanara; Dunedin Black Watch, ridden by Hayley Frielick; High Tide, ridden by Rachel Lawson; Little Hail, ridden by Ali Kuhn; Malibu Preacher, ridden by Alexander Conrad; Menlo Park, ridden by Tracey Bienemann; Sea of Clouds, ridden by Olivia Dutton; Venezuelan River, ridden by Tracey Bienemann; Vincent Chase, ridden by Heather Gillette; and Wizard, ridden by Sarah Cousins.
Sea of Clouds, ridden to multiple five-star finishes by the Olympian Phillip Dutton, is now piloted by his daughter, Olivia. The horse’s ownership team, which includes his racing connections, is supporting the up-and-coming rider. Olivia Dutton and Sea of Clouds finished 13th in their Kentucky four-star debut last year. High Tide and Lawson also are returning to the four-star after finishing 24th last year.
Sea of Clouds is one of three entrants in the four-star by the late Malibu Moon, a classic sire who stood at Spendthrift Farm. He also is the sire of Malibu Preacher and Little Hail. That makes Malibu Moon the second-most prolific sire of entrants at this year’s event.
Diarado, a Holsteiner stallion who stands in Germany and is considered one of the world’s top sporthorse sires, is represented by four offspring entered – three in the five-star and one in the four-star.
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