66 SIDELINES JULY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Kiwi Wins Rolex!
By Lauren R. Giannini
New Zealand eventing star,
Andrew Nicholson, won his frst-
ever Rolex Kentucky Three-Day
Event, presented by Land Rover,
with Quimbo, a frst-time four-star
horse. He also placed third on
Calico Joe, while longtime British
rival, William Fox-Pitt, past winner
of two Rolexes, earned runner-up
honors aboard Seacookie TSF.
“Quimbo (10, Spanish-bred
gelding) is a very, very smart horse
and an unbelievable show jumper.
That’s what he’s bred to be,” said
Andrew. “His breeding isn’t standard
for an event horse. It’s good show
jumping blood, but not the out-and-
out galloping sort of blood. I’ve
learned this weekend that he’s got
enough stamina to do the four-star
jumping efforts and the gallop.”
After dressage, Andrew and
Quimbo took a substantial lead that
would prove unbeatable. Next-to-
last in the order of go, they wowed
the international panel of judges
who rewarded them with the top
score of 38.0 penalty points. Calico
Joe moved into second place
after cross-country, and Andrew
remained in the catbird seat after
Quimbo scorched the cross-country
with a perfect round.
The pressure was on: the Kiwi
knew from past experiences
that winning boiled down to the
painted rails staying in their jump
cups. Calico Joe dropped three
for 12 faults, good for third place
on 52.8 ppt. Quimbo added only
three time penalties for a fnal
score of 41.0. Nothing William and
Seacookie could have done would
improve their result: they fnished
on their dressage score of 46.2 in
second place.
United States riders held their
own in the heavily competitive feld
in which 45 started but only 29
fnished. Buck Davidson partnered with Ballynoe Castle RM to
fnish fourth, thereby earning the USEF Four-Star Championship
and his third USET Foundation’s Pinnacle Cup for best fnish
by an American. Buck also piloted four-star debutantes Mar de
Amor to ninth and Park Trader to 22nd. Another four-star frst-
timer, Donner, thrilled American rider Lynn Symansky with his
athleticism. They fnished ffth, joining William and Seacookie as
the only two combinations to jump double clear rounds in cross-
William Fox-Pitt, the 2012 Rolex winner, came close to defending his title but placed second on
Seacookie TSF.
Photo by Beth Grant - bethgrantphotography.com
e
Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo
Photo by Beth Grant - bethgrantphotography.com
country and show jumping.
Rolex celebrated the “equestrian triathlon” at Kentucky Horse
Park, its scenic bluegrass venue in Lexington. The only four-
star three-day event in North America, Rolex graciously shared
its stage with the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup: CRI*** Open
FEI Reining and the crowd-pleasing Reining World Freestyle
Championship, complete with event riders and Lyle Lovett.
Continued on page 68