Equestrian: Disappointment for Price at Kentucky

Tim Price tasted disappointment at Kentucky. Photo / Getty

Tim Price's bid for a second four star eventing crown in less than a year ended in disappointment at Kentucky yesterday.

New Zealander Price and his mount Wesko finished second on their debut at Lexington today, having led by a single rail going into the final showjumping round.

Wesko put one rail down to drop to second behind German star, and Olympic champion, Michael Jung aboard Fischerrrocana FST.

By chance at Luhmuhlen, Germany last June, Price triumphed, also on Wesko, their clear round overtaking Jung, who had a slip up at the second last jump.

This time it was Price's error aboard 12-year-old Dutch horse Wesko which proved costly. The combination rode an otherwise perfectly controlled round at Kentucky Horse Park.

"You just have to put everything to one side and focus," said Price. "My horse is very good in a crowd and I believed that would lift him today . . . and it did."

Price felt he rode a "slightly bad line" leading up to their only mistake on the course.
Next, he is off to Badminton, starting on May 7, with Ringwood Sky Boy, and later in the
season returns to Luhmuhlen.

And he's not finished with Kentucky either - ''I will definitely be back next year."

Price and Jung were also on the winning Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, in a composite New Zealand, Germany, Ireland and Australian team.

Jung and Biosthetique - Sam FBW took two rails in the showjumping to slip from second to third individually, while the defending Kentucky champ, Briton William Fox-Pit and Bay My Hero went clear to hold on to fourth.

The other New Zealaander in the field, Emily Cammock, had a sad end to the event, having to put down her horse Dambala, after he sustained significant damage to a ligament during the cross country phase.

"He was the most honest, willing and trusting horse that always gave 150 per cent," she said in a statement.