THE favourites for gold, Britain, lead the eventing competition at the Paris Olympic Games on a day when the eventing dressage record was smashed twice at the stunning Chateau de Versailles venue.

Britain’s Laura Collett first broke David O’Connor’s record of 19.3 (Sydney 2000) when riding for her life to an incredible 17.50 with London 52, before German maestro Michael Jung came very close to setting another record but ultimately had to settle for the individual silver spot overnight on 17.8.

Britain lead the pack of teams on 68.6 which is - according to EquiRatings, the sport’s leading data company - a record team score after dressage at an Olympic Games, beating the previous best of 68.6 (Australia, Hong Kong 2008). Germany are 7.39 penalties behind to hold provisional silver, ahead of the home nation of France on 81.20. The Irish team are in 11th place.

It was a day of spectacular sport despite the persistent rain.

Collett and the 15-year-old gelding, competing at their second Olympic Games, produced some stunning work through their test, earning multiple scores of nines and 10s. It was also a best ever score for Laura at international level. “I loved every second of that test, that horse is unbelievable,” a beaming Collett said afterwards.

Asked how she prepared for today after a disappointing dressage performance in Tokyo three years ago, Collett said: “I’ve changed an awful lot since Tokyo. Everyone knows that didn't work there. It's been quite testing really, because two days ago, he was absolutely wild in that arena and he was pretty naughty and I just had to trust that I didn't want him perfect two days ago, it was all building up. I had to wait and just push for the last 10 minutes today and save it for the arena and that paid off.”

EquiRatings have updated their prediction centre to give Collett a 37% win chance after her record-breaking dressage ahead of tomorrow’s cross-country.

Laura Collett and London 52 at the Paris Olympic Games \ Tomas Holcbecher

Ninth into the arena, Tom McEwen got the British team underway with JL Dublin, scoring 25.80. They ended the day in 11th place individually. “Dubs (JL Dublin) was awesome, amazing. He loves an atmosphere and I must say he really lit up in the arena, a little bit more than I was expecting!”

The reigning European champion Ros Canter had to wait until 5.20pm to ride her test with Lordships Graffalo and also delivered for the team, slotting into sixth place individually on 23.40. Canter commented: “I kept in my own little bubble today apart from watching my guys and a couple this morning. I very much tried to stay process-driven today and I am over the moon with him.

“You know, we all forget that Walter (Lordships Graffalo) is actually only 12 years old even though he has won Badminton and the Europeans, but he's still a green horse. I still very much feel like we're only scratching the surface, particularly in a test like that, which is significantly harder than the test we normally see.”

German legend

Michael Jung produced another record-breaking test with Chipmunk FRH to slot into second place. He now has two dressage tests in the top 10 best tests of all time at an Olympics following Chipmunk’s score of 21.1 in Tokyo. “It was an amazing feeling today in a stadium like that. He was concentrating and I knew I could take all the risks and try everything,” Jung said afterwards.

The reigning Olympic champion, Germany’s Julia Krajewski, was the first competitor of the 2024 Olympic Games and got Team Germany underway. Julia, who only got the call-up to the starting team this week, rode a beautiful test with the 10-year-old gelding Nickel 21 to score 26.90 and sits 15th after dressage. The third German rider, Christoph Wahler, is in 21st place on 29.40.

Burton back with a bang

Sitting in joint third place individually is Australia’s Christopher Burton and China’s Alex Hua Tian. The pair both ended on a score of 22.0.

Burton made a comeback to eventing this year after spending three years in the sport of pure show jumping and, having helped the Australian show jumping qualify for Paris, he was in line for selection in both sports. He is riding the 14-year-old gelding Shadow Man in Paris, who is loaned from Britain’s Ben Hobday.

Asked was it difficult to come back to the sport, and specifically riding the dressage, Burton replied: “Riding doesn't change, does it? I was away from for a while, and I was delighted when I got back to learn your skill set doesn't leave you. Well, I got very nervous at Aachen, actually, because I thought what if I’ve ruined my career, and what if I'm old and I can't go fast anymore? But that was nice to see. It doesn't leave you. I am old, though!”

Known as one of the fastest riders in the sport of eventing, speaking about the cross-country speed, he added: “We have to go clear first. Pierre (le Goupil) has built a really tough track out there. So we've got to do our job, keep our head in the game and stay focused step by step. Luckily for me, he's got a real turn of foot.”

Horse eliminated

Italy’s first team rider, Emiliano Portale, was eliminated after blood was found on the horse’s mouth during the post-competition check. Under the eventing format at the Olympics, the Italian team can substitute in the alternate rider, Pietro Sandei (Rubis De Prere), however the team will be handed 100 penalties for Portale’s non completion and another 20 penalties for the substitution.

Elsewhere, Morocco’s Noor Slaoui became the first Arabian woman to ride in eventing at an Olympic Games. She was riding the Traditional Irish Sport Horse Cash In Hand (Sayarshan x Carrabawn View) who was bred by John Gillivan.

“He's an Irish Draught crossed with a thoroughbred so a very old-school event horse. He's not the flashiest but he's got the biggest heart. He is everything you can wish for in a horse in that respect. So for my first Olympics, I'm super happy that I get to do that with him,” Slaoui commented.

Noor Slaoui of Team Morocco riding Cash in Hand (ISH) \ Sportsfile

The highest placed Irish horse after dressage is MGH Grafton Street (OBOS Quality), ridden by Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa. The 16-year-old gelding was bred by Martin J Collins and is a former five-star winner with Pippa Funnell who trains the rider.

Attention now turns to tomorrow's (Sunday) cross-country competition, beginning at 10.30am (9.30am Irish time). With persistent rain in Versailles for two days, the complexion of the competition is likely to change tomorrow.

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