Burton clears for unexpected Three Day win
An unexpected equestrian partnership not even a week old has taken out the Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide.
UK-based Chris Burton and Jamaimo were ranked sixth heading into Sunday’s final stanza but produced one of only two clear rounds of the day to snatch victory.
It was a remarkable win given the 31-year-old had his first ride on Jamaimo on Wednesday after the horse’s regular rider Will Enzinger broke his leg and couldn’t contest the prestigious event.
“The owners had booked their ticket to watch the horse in Adelaide, and the horse was fit and ready, so they asked if I would ride him,” Burton told AAP.
“It’s unexpected that’s for sure. I sat on him for the first time on Wednesday and I thought he’s a lovely horse, what a little ripper.
“He’s been brilliantly prepared and a treat for me to ride. It’s something I won’t forget in a long time.
“We knew he was a good jumper but I was just the jockey this weekend, the credit really belongs to Will (Enzinger) and his team,” he said.
With six riders within four penalties (one show jumping rail) of each other, Sunday’s finale was always going to be a tight tussle.
Burton’s victory caps off a sensational year for the UK based Australian event rider and London 2012 Olympian; he won the prestigious Aachen (GER) three day event earlier this year.
Stay informed, daily
Olympic gold medallist Stuart Tinney and Olympic silver medallist Shane Rose, couldn’t produce the clear rounds required to maintain their top positions from saturday’s cross country.
Last year’s winner Craig Barrett was on track to repeat his effort but his mount Sandhills Brillaire knocked the final rail which relegated them to third place.
The only other clear round of the day belonged to Olympic silver medallist Sonja Johnson and her mount Belfast Mojito which propelled them from seventh to second.
