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One late withdrawal, a few bucks and a substitute handler at the Maryland 5 Star first trot-up

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • Twenty-two horses were presented at the Mars Maryland 5 Star first trot-up today (15 October) and all were passed fit to start the competition.

    The horses came before the ground jury, consisting of Britain’s Sandy Phillips and the USA’s Beatrice di Grazia and Robert Stevenson, in bright sunshine but with a brisk breeze blowing.

    As usual the horses who have flown in from Europe were presented first at the Maryland 5 Star first trot-up, presented by Dubarry, to keep them separate from the North America-based horses for biosecurity reasons.

    This year, four horses have made that trip and the first to trot up was Quindiva, ridden by Britain’s Alex Bragg. The mare, who was third at Badminton Horse Trials in 2024, appeared alert but relaxed and Alex looked smart in cream trousers, a navy gilet, a pale blue shirt and sunglasses.

    The other European-based horses competing this year are Centennial (ridden by New Zealand’s Tayla Mason), Chilli’s Midnight Star (ridden by New Zealand’s Jonelle Price) and Cartania (ridden by Switzerland’s Felix Vogg).

    The riders with more than one horse in the competition trotted their mounts up next – Caroline Pamukcu with HSH Tolan King, She’s The One and HSH Blake, plus Boyd Martin with Luke 140 and Commando 3. She’s The One had a little buck at the start of the strip but passed the inspection without problems.

    A little later Cooley Space Grey, ridden by Brooke Burchianti, was another to show some high spirits with a buck as he began his trot-up, but again it didn’t affect him being passed by the ground jury.

    Buck Davidson was also slated to come forward with two horses, albeit a little later in the order, but Sorocaima – the ex-racehorse who was fourth here last year – was a late withdrawal and was not presented at the trot-up. Buck will still start on Cooley Candyman.

    Maryland 5 Star first trot-up 2025: Sorocaima, pictured here last year, was a late withdrawal before the inspection

    Buck Davidson and Sorocaima on the way to fourth at Maryland 5 Star in 2024. Credit: Amy Dragoo

    Phillip Dutton trotted up Jennie Brannigan’s ride FE Lifestyle as the rider is recovering from a fall before entering the start box when Kismet showed some “unwanted gymnastics” at Morven Park last weekend.

    The five-star dressage starts at 2.05pm local time (7.05pm British time) tomorrow.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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