James Alliston and Tivoli jump double-clear on cross country to win the CIC3* at Galway Down. (Captured Moment Photography)

Temecula, Calif. - The hot and dry California temperatures did not stand in the way of competitors in the CIC3* Adequan USEA Gold Cup division at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. Event organizer Robert Kellerhouse and his crew spent countless hourswatering and dragging the cross-country courses to ensure the footing was safe and rideable for all competitors.

Ian Stark, cross-country course designer for Galway Downs, built a large but confidence building CIC3* course this year to help prepare the Kentucky-bound pairs for what comes next.

“I saw some great riding today,” stated Stark. “This surely isn’t the toughest CIC3* track I’ve produced, but there were some decent questions out there, and I thought the riders rose to the challenge, and I was seriously impressed.” Stark also expressed that, “the standard and level of riding out here on the west coast has risen greatly, and it shows, since a serious majority of them are headed to Rolex [Kentucky] in a few weeks.”

James Alliston piloted Tivoli to a double clear cross-country round to win the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* division. The Dutch Warmblood gelding ran fast and clear today, ending on his dressage score of a 49.5.

“He’s a really quality horse, and as long as I stay out of his way and let him do his thing, he’s always competitive,” stated Alliston. “I went pretty quickly out there, which I wanted to do for his fitness as well as to help train my eye and get the practice in for what I’ll have to do at Rolex next month.” Alliston noted that the ground was very well groomed and watered, which enabled them to get going fast on the long stretches and make up any lost time...read more at www.USEventing.com.