- Caroline Pamukcu and Lucienne Bellissimo Steal the…
Aiken, S.C.—Sept. 26—Day 1 of Stable View Oktoberfest began much calmer compared to day 1 last fall. Riders, officials, and Stable View staff were heard around the facility this morning recalling the horrors they woke up to last year from the destruction Hurricane Helene left in her wake. Friday, while starting with slight rain, turned into a beautiful sunny day until a weather hold partway through the CCI3*-S division.
The CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S divisions started the day off bright and early with dressage. Nineteen combinations came forward in the four-star with only one rider, Caroline Pamukcu, having multiple rides. She presented HSH Tolan King, HSH Connor, and HSH Double Sixteen. She held the lead with HSH Connor right up until the very last ride when Boyd Martin entered the arena with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Nutcracker, owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate. The pair delivered a score of 29.5, the only score to break into the 20s.
Moving onto show jumping, Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey were the first combination to go double-clear over Chris Barnard’s track. Pamukcu was three seconds over optimum time with her first first horse, HSH Tolan King. When she entered the ring on her second-placed horse, HSH Connor, she shaved a few seconds off and came in 1 second under optimum time moving her into the temporary lead.
Lucienne Bellissimo and Horse Scout Eventing LLC’s Kitsch Couture HPK delivered a flawless round to stay on their dressage score of 33.5. When Pamukcu entered the ring for the third time on HSH Double Sixteen she delivered another beautiful round to stay ahead of Bellissimo by just 1/10 of a penalty. She crossed the finish and the stands erupted in cheers. They quickly fell silent as Martin and Cooley Nutcracker entered the arena. Everything was going to plan for the pair until fence 10 when they unfortunately had a miscommunication taking a rail with them. Like the seasoned pros they are, they went on to finish the course in beautiful style to finish the day in third place…