Kiwi riders aiming for titles in Kentucky
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Top Kiwi equestrians are heading to Kentucky this week to compete in 5* eventing and showjumping.
Eventers Tim Price and Monica Spencer will contest the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L, while Uma O’Neill lines up in the CSI5* showjumping.
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Price first competed at the Kentucky 5* in 2015 and has twice placed second and once third. The world No 4 is excited to be taking both Vitali and Global Quest this year.
“I feel these two horses are fit and ready to go,” he said. “It is interesting to have Vitali somewhere other than Badminton and Burghley, which he has been doing for these last few years.”
“I always love Kentucky,” he says. “It is a great event and I am hoping to go and have a good show.”
Global Quest was produced by the late Georgie Campbell and been with Tim since 2024, doing their first 5* at Pau last year.
Spencer and Artist have place seventh (2024) and eighth (2025) at Kentucky, and she’s hopeful it will be “third time’s a charm” for the US-based combo.
“We are excited to be heading back to Kentucky, especially to gallop across that blue grass,” she said.
“Max is feeling better than ever. I’d love to reach for the podium this year.”
There are 30 on the star-stacked 5* start list, including world no.1 Harry Meade (GBR) and No 2 Boyd Martin (USA) – both of whom have claimed top three previously.
Also in the mix are Tom Jackson (GBR), Caroline Pamukcu (USA), Will Coleman (USA) and Tom McEwen (GBR).
Kentucky is one of just six 5*s on the global calendar and the longest running premier event in the United States.
There is also the CCI4*. Organisers proudly call it ‘the best weekend all year’, with the event attracting more than 90,000 spectators.
The horse details –
Artist (Guillotine x Maxamore x Volksraad) – owned by Spencer Eventing
Global Quest (Metropole x Big Sink mare) – owned by Diana and Lance Morrish
Vitali (Contender x Noble Lady I x Heraldic) – owned by Joseph and Alexander Giannamore and Tim Price
Luigi D’Eclipse (Catoki x Eluna D’Eclipse x Calato) – owned by Tal Milstein Stables and Uma O’Neill
