Olympic Veteran Dutton Emerges as Bouckaert Favorite
The anticipation builds as the US Equestrian Open Series continues its inaugural season this weekend at Bouckaert International Horse Trials in Georgia.
Following a successful series launch with the spectacular opener at Morven Park earlier this month that saw Emily Beshear and Rio de Janeiro claim victory, the stage is set for new contenders to make their mark.
The second leg of the innovative US Equestrian Open series heads to Bouckaert International Horse Trials this weekend, promising to deliver another round of world-class competition as riders vie for crucial series points and substantial prize money in this groundbreaking championship format.
Olympic veteran Phillip Dutton stands out as the frontrunner at Bouckaert, with the prediction centre highlighting Dutton as the clear favorite with a 48% chance of victory and 74% chance of a podium finish with his mount Jewelent. His recent performances have been impressive, including a third-place finish at Millspring, NC in September and a second place at Bouckaert in March with the same horse.
As one of the top contenders in the field, Dutton will be focusing on securing early points this weekend to establish a strong position on the leaderboard. His experience and consistent performances make him a key figure to watch in the upcoming competition.
Dutton has also shown strong form with his other mounts, coming close to podium positions with Imposant at Aiken and with Denim at Bouckaert. His strategy of maintaining multiple 4* level horses could prove advantageous throughout the series.
Following in the predictions is Sara Kozumplik with Rock Phantom at 15% win chance, while Christina Henriksen with Cisco's Calor Z and Jennie Jarnstrom aboard Flower Girl are equal with a 10% chance of victory.
The competition features just one returning competitor from the Morven Park opener - Julia Ennis Batters with Cooley O. Having secured 10 series points with her seventh-place finish at the first qualifier, Batters enters Bouckaert with valuable experience and points already on the board.
The first qualifier at Morven Park set a high bar, introducing fresh faces to the spotlight with impressive performances from emerging talents like Ema Klugman and Arden Wildasin. This weekend's competition at Bouckaert promises similar excitement, with every rider eyeing both immediate success and valuable series points.
The strength of the field is evident with several accomplished combinations vying for top honors. Adding intrigue to the competition, Katherine Malensek brings forward two talented mounts in her quest for series points. Her partnership with STX Mex carries an 8% chance of victory and a strong 39% probability of a top-three finish, while her second ride Landjaeger, though showing a more modest 4% win chance, but still maintains a solid 26% chance of reaching the podium. This dual-mount strategy could prove particularly valuable in the context of the series' overall standings.
The US Equestrian Open series represents a significant evolution in American eventing, comprising 18 qualifying events culminating in a championship final at Morven Park in 2025. The innovative format allows riders to accumulate points from their best six qualifier results, creating a season-long narrative of competition and consistency. With substantial prize money at stake - including $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second, and $10,000 for third at each qualifier - and a final prize pool of $200,000, the series has already begun attracting top talent.
Follow all the action as it unfolds at Bouckaert International 4* - S through our live results and leaderboard. For deeper insights into this competitive field check out our comprehensive fan guide.
With the series still in its early stages, strong performances at Bouckaert could prove crucial in the long-term championship battle, making this weekend's competition a pivotal moment in the inaugural US Equestrian Open series.
Tune into the USEFNetwork, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV or through our streaming partner ESPN3 to catch all the excitement in real-time.
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For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org . For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at lgriffin@usef.org.
