Germany's
Frank Ostholt is in the lead after the dressage phase at the Luhmühlen Horse Trials, heading an international field on Little Paint.
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Frank Ostholt and Little Paint head an international field at the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 at Luhmühlen. © Peter Nixon/FEI |
Ostholt, 35, won Luhmühlen in 2006 on Air Jordan, and was second three years ago on Little Paint, a 13-year-old Nitron gelding.
The 2008 Olympic team gold medallist has just 1.9 penalties in hand over Britain's Piggy French on Flying Machine. French, the reigning European silver medallist, is a rider with her sights firmly set on a first CCI4* win, having finished a close second recently at Badminton, and is well placed in the HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard in third.
There are five Germans in the top 10 after Dressage, including the reigning World Champion and 2009 Luhmühlen winner Michael Jung (8th), this time riding the 12-year-old Leopin, a recent winner of Compiegne CCI2* (France), but Sweden, Australia, Italy and New Zealand are also represented in the 43-strong field.
Much interest will surround ninth-placed Jonathan Paget, representing New Zealand on Clifton Lush. The 27-year-old made a great impression on his championship debut last year and Clifton Lush, a new ride for him, went well at Luhmühlen last year for former jockey Joe Meyer.
Paget's first international class with Lush was just a few weeks ago when he won the 3* Class at Bramham Horse Trials.
World Equestrian Games bronze medalist Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control are just behind Paget with 44.2 points in 11th position. Nicholson is also sitting in 24th spot with 51.5 points on Armada, with Caroline Powell and Mrs Tilly, having her first 4* start, in 35th with 58.8.
Mary King, the current HSBC FEI Classics leader and top of HSBC Rankings, is in 14th place on Apache Sauce, ahead of 2010 series champion William Fox-Pitt on Macchiato, both of whom have plenty of chances to add to their points tally this weekend.
Cross-country course designer Captain Mark Phillips says the ground conditions should be excellent after the recent rain, and predicts that fence 12, the HSBC Hexagon Corner, will be influential.
Kai Rüder and Leprince des Bois lead the CIC3* on 31,50 after the dressage, from Marina Köhncke (Calma Schelly, 37.50, 2nd) and Andreas Ostholt (Franco Jeas, 37.70, 3rd).