Australian Phillip Dutton cruised to victory in the FEI World Cup Qualifier at Chatsworth International Horse Trials (CIC***-W) with The Foreman on 46.2 penalities and also took second place with Hannigan (46.9) after the final cross-country phase at Bouckaert Farm, in northern Georgia. Olympic Silver medalist, Kimberly Severson, who won here in 2000 aboard Over The Limit moved into third place following a clear round on her 2002 winner, Winsome Adante, to finish on her dressage score of 50.50 and also take fifth place on the 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Royal Venture. Darren Chiacchia who was lying in the third place overnight slipped to fourth place on Windfall 2 after collecting a few time penalties.

Dutton, who has now won two of the four FEI World Cup Qualifiers in the U.S., having won Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida in March, has secured his ticket to the final in Sweden in August for Australia and collected $16,000 from a total purse of $30,000 (the largest purse for a qualifier in the U.S.) along with the North American Beaulieu Classic Perpetual Trophy. The amiable Dutton was naturally pleased with his horses’ performances this weekend.

“Hannigan was brilliant as I would have expected with him,” he remarked of a horse that he is particularly fond of. “He’s one of my all-time favorite horses; a real character, I’ve got a soft spot for him,” he said. The pair was one of only two combinations to make the optimum time of 4 minutes and 43 seconds over Mark Phillips course, which had been reduced to omit some soft footing after the heavy rain of last week. “I had to work harder on The Foreman,” added Dutton, who collected just 1.2 time penalties on Ann Jones’ nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, The Foreman. “Hannigan made the time easy, but The Foreman is not so experienced, so I went easy on him.

Severson, who collect a check for $3,500, as well as qualifying for the FEI World Cup Final as the highest-placed U.S. rider, was clearly relieved that the weather had cooperated to dry up the footing and that the course had been shortened. “I think they [the ground jury] did the right thing,” she said after returning with the only other double clear round from 26 starters. “I was very surprised at how good the footing was; it was excellent. My horses finished well, and I think most people had a good time,” she added.

Although Chiacchia returned with a slower time, he was please with Dr. Timothy Holekamp’s stallion, Windfall 2. “I was thrilled with my horse. He went beautifully today. He was right on form. I didn’t press him in between the fences,” he commented. “The course made a lot of progress after the rain, and the footing was darn good.”

Many riders were using this outing as a warm-up for the major spring events, such as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at the end of the month, and were satisfied that the course tested them fairly in their preparation.

U.S. riders have one more opportunity to qualify for the FEI World Cup Final at the last qualifier in this country, which will take place in July at Kalispell, MT.

Full results are posted on the web site at www.bouckaertfarm.com.~~~