The cards were shuffled a little, but as expected the experienced combinations kept control of the HSBC CCI4* after a glorious Cross Country day in Adelaide, second leg of the FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 series. Time penalties changed the order slightly with Stuart Tinney (AUS) adding just 0.4 with John and Jane Pittard’s Pluto Mio to take over the lead from fellow Australian Shane Rose.

Rose had held first and third after Friday’s Dressage, but has slipped to second and third. Taurus, third after Dressage, clocked the same time as Pluto Mio to move up to second place just 0.20 penalties behind. “He’s a good galloper”, declared Tinney of the Daley K (by Daktylus) gelding. “He galloped pretty well and was on time at the beginning, but lost time in the middle of the course.”

Dressage leader CP Qualified slipped down the order to third with the addition of 7.2 time penalties, but Rose was clearly delighted with the performance of the CCI4* rookie. Bred more for Jumping than Eventing, the attractive grey looked just as comfortable crossing the finish line as those bred to gallop.

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