By Kate Green

Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) produced a brilliant Dressage test on Flying Finish, a newcomer at CCI4* level, to head the field of 44 after the first day at Luhmühlen (GER), penultimate leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™.

The Ground Jury of Jennie Loriston-Clarke (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Christoph Hess (GER) awarded her the excellent score of 31.8, one of six to come in under the 40 barrier.

Fredericks has a one-penalty lead over the 2009 winner and current world and European champion Michael Jung (GER), best of the home side on CCI4* first-timer Leopin. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), the only rider who can overtake HSBC FEI Classics™ leader William Fox-Pitt at this stage, is in close contention in third place with Mr Cruise Control.

Andrew Hoy (AUS) on Rutherglen, last year’s winner Andreas Dibowski (GER), on FRH Butts Avedon, and Oliver Townend (GBR), who conjured a best ever CCI4* mark from new ride Armada, a horse that can be explosive in this phase, also scored sub-40 marks.

“I can’t believe I’ve beaten Michael Jung!” said Fredericks. “But I have just watched a video of our test and I feel my horse did deserve the mark as it was lovely.

“I don’t think I’ll still be in the lead after Cross Country as, although he’s a very good jumping horse, he’s inexperienced, and I will probably get a few time penalties. But as long as I finish in a good place, I will be very happy. Who knows? We might even be needed for Greenwich in six weeks’ time!”

Fredericks bought the 10-year-old Flying Finish, a Holsteiner/Thoroughbred cross, two years ago from a riding school near Stuttgart, Germany, for owner Donald Reid to ride. However, she has taken over the ride on the gelding and has been placed in six CIC3*s, as well as a second place behind Olympic team gold medallists Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Butts Abraxxas at Vairano CCI3* (ITA).

Fredericks, a team silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics, is one of an elite group of riders (William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Pippa Funnell and Andrew Hoy) to have won the Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky CCI4*s – she achieved all three on Headley Britannia.

She describes Mark Phillips’s Cross Country track as “pretty meaty. Every jump is big and there’s a stack of wide fences. There’s a lot to jump in 10 minutes. The ground is fast but good, and the rain we’re just getting now will be good. I’m looking forward to the challenge.’

Follow all the Cross Country action on www.luhmuehlen.de and on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) (coverage starts 13.20 CEST).

Results after Dressage
1 Lucinda Fredericks/Flying Finish (AUS) 31.8
2 Michael Jung/Leopin FST (GER) 32.8
3 Andrew Nicholson/Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 34.7
4 Andrew Hoy/Rutherglen (AUS) 34.8
5 Andreas Dibowski/FRH Butts Avedon (GER) 35.2
6 Oliver Townend/Armada (GBR) 39.5
7 Peter Flarup/Calista E (DEN) 40.0
8 Charlotte Agnew/Out Of Africa Two (GBR) 40.8
9 Francis Whittington/Easy Target (GBR) 41.5
10 Andrew Nicholson/Calico Joe (NZL) 41.7

HSBC’s Training Bursary
At the centre of HSBC’s sponsorship is a commitment to the development of Eventing at every level. As part of its support of the HSBC FEI Classics™, HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary. This is a unique award which is presented to the highest placed rider never to have completed a 4* event prior to 1 January 2011. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of US $1,000, which is spent on sessions with a trainer of the athlete’s choice approved by the FEI and the relevant National Federation. Further information can be found here: http://www.fei.org/hsbc/hsbc-training-bursary

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 Leaderboard (after 3 out of 5 events, due to cancellation of Badminton):
1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 30
2 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 16
3 Stuart Tinney (AUS) 15
4 Alison Springer (USA) 12
5 Sonja Johnson (AUS) 12
6 Boyd Martin (USA) 10
7 Emma Mason (AUS) 10
8 Mary King (GBR) 8
9 Karen O’Connor (USA) 8
10 Natalie Blundell (AUS) 8

Full leaderboard can be viewed here.

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 press kit
Download the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 press kit here: http://www.feipresskits.org/
 
Editors’ notes:

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 calendar
Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 12-16 October 2011
Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) - 18-20 November 2011
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) -  26-29 April 2012
Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 4-7 May 2012
Luhmühlen CCI 4* (GER) - 14-17 June 2012
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 30 August-2 September 2012

Prize money
At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected among the HSBC FEI Classics™ events will be awarded their share of a total prize fund of US$333,000 split as follows:

1st - US$150,000 (Series Champion)
2nd - US$75,000
3rd - US$50,000
4th - US$33,000
5th - US$25,000

HSBC Rankings
To view the HSBC Rankings please click here.