By Anna Sharpley

Craig Barrett, leader after the challenging Cross Country phase of the HSBC FEI Classics™ in Adelaide, and riding in his first 4* competition, said he was both “absolutely thrilled” and “disappointed” after today’s action: “Sandhills Brillaire went beautifully and galloped really well, but with Wendela Jamie (Dressage leader), I just made too many mistakes”.

It was a dramatic Cross Country day that saw the top three after Dressage failing to make it through the finish flags. Barrett produced the run of the day with the competition trailblazing home-bred Staccato mare, adding just 0.8 of a time penalty to take the lead with a two-day total of 51.80.

Barrett’s other ride, Wendela Jamie, had a runout at the costly number 13, a skinny fence on a related distance off the island in Rymill Lake, and it was here too that Stuart Tinney came to grief and retired after the big grey, Pluto Mio avoided the issue twice.

Shane Rose, who put in a faultless performance to lead the CCI2*, struck trouble early on the 4* track with a runout at 5B riding APH Moritz. A further stop at the Advertiser Hedge saw Rose joining the six 4* competitors to walk home.

Wayne Copping’s track was shortened by 30 seconds, with the Qantas Flyover taken out and the last fence situated close to the misting tents and cooling off area. The weather turned out not to be as severe as predicted, but with horse welfare paramount, the adjustment was applauded by all.

Natalie Blundell from Harden in New South Wales was in contention for London 2012 Olympic Games selection, and with her talented horse Algebra, used her experience to produce only the second clear round over the fences. The pair added 5.6 time penalties and hold overnight second place with 59.80. Natalie won the first Adelaide 4* in 1999 riding Billy Bathgate and declared: “I hope to put pressure on Craig tomorrow”.

“The weather suited the tough Thoroughbred”, commented Craig, with Algebra and Murray Lamperd’s Under The Clocks, both ex-racehorses, proving the point. Murray and Under The Clocks had a runout at the tall Rose Garden Corners at 17ab. He then added some Thoroughbred speed to come home with only 14.8 time penalties to claim third place after the tough Cross Country. Lamperd is an experienced rider, but has not competed at a 4* event for some time. “It was overwhelming; so intense and so big, I need practice to ride at this level again. The horse is honest and I am positive, and that normally gets us through.”

All the riders declared Adelaide a valuable member of the HSBC FEI Classics™ series. The Cross Country track, at just over 10 minutes, was challenging and demanding with the skinny fence 13 coming out of Rymill Lake catching six riders. Technical Delegate Alec Lochore explained: “There was definitely something the horses didn’t quite understand. Some horses jumped it beautifully, but it was more than just a coincidence that six horses ran out to the side. It could have been the jump into water, or the light and the shade.”

Penalties were also spread around the course resulting in runouts. Apart from one rider fall, the faults came from failure to have the horse well enough in front of the leg and straight, resulting in harmless but costly penalties.

Spectators flocked to the venue in their thousands, aiming for the shade afforded by the Adelaide Parklands. The event grows each year and, since it became part of the prestigious HSBC FEI Classics™ series, its profile has undoubtedly grown amongst Australian equestrian enthusiasts.

Event Director Gill Rolton was pleased to comment that the Local South Australian Government and Adelaide City Council were both now fully behind the event. “Running this event is a huge commitment, but we need an event of this stature in this country,” she said.

The final Jumping phase will be staged tomorrow, with Barrett aiming not only to win the Adelaide leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™, but also claim the HSBC Bursary for the highest placed rider never to have previously completed a 4* event.

Results after Cross Country:

1.    Craig Barrett/Sandhills Brillaire (AUS) 51 + 0.8 = 51.80
2.    Natalie Blundell/Algebra (AUS) 54.2 + 5.6 = 59.80
3.    Murray Lamperd/Under The Clocks (AUS) 50.7 + 34.8 = 85.50
4.    John Twomey/Highly Recommended (AUS) 60.5 + 36.8 = 97.30
5.    Jessica Manson/Legal Star (AUS) 62.2 + 44.4 = 106.60
6.    Keira Byrnes/Fox Hill (AUS) 67.5 + 54.8 = 122.30
7.    Crystal Conning/Marcus Aurelius (AUS) 61.2 + 80.8 = 142.00
8.    Andrew Cooper/Guest Of Honour (AUS) 62.0 + 95.0 = 157.00

Full results on www.australian3de.com.au

Follow the action LIVE tomorrow (Sunday, 25 November) on FEI TV www.feitv.org, the FEI’s official video channel:

01:30 CET – 03:30 CET Jumping 2* Competition (*last two hours of competition)
04:55 CET – 05:45 CET HSBC FEI Classics™ Jumping (*also available on Monday 26 November in the afternoon as Video-On-Demand).

Download the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012/2013 press kit: www.feipresskits.org/

HSBC’s Training Bursary
At the centre of HSBC’s sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport 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 previously completed a 4-star level event. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of US $1,000 to be spent on sessions with a trainer of the athlete’s choice approved by the FEI and National Federation.  

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012/2013 calendar
1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 24-28 October 2012
2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) - 22-25 November 2012
3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) - 25-28 April 2013
4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 3-6 May 2013
5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* (GER) - 13-16 June 2013
6 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 5-8 September 2013

Notes to editors

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics™ series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, since 2008.

In our HSBC FEI Hub: www.fei.org/hsbc/hsbc-fei-classics, you can access the HSBC Rankings, past series news and the information below:

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 Final Standings (full 2012 standings here).
1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 40 points ($150,000, Series Champion)
2 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 39 ($75,000)
3 Alison Springer (USA) 17 ($50,000)
4 Michael Jung (GER) 15 ($33,000)
5 Stuart Tinney (AUS) 15 ($25,000)

Prize money
The HSBC FEI Classics™ prize fund is the largest on offer in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis. At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012/2013 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six HSBC FEI Classics™ events will be awarded their share of a total 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
The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2012 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2012.

Join the FEI on Facebook & twitter
Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics™ #Eventing