It’s pretty good timing when you are in the form of your life a year ahead of an Olympic Games in your own back yard, and that’s why Kazuma Tomoto’s superb leading score after CCI5*-L Dressage at Longines Luhmuhlen Horse Trials 2019 has set Japanese hearts racing once again.
A score of 25.2 leaves the 36-year-old, who only transferred from Jumping to Eventing three years ago, just 0.6 penalty points ahead of new World No 1, Tim Price from New Zealand going into tomorrow’s cross-country phase at the prestigious German venue. Both riders competed at Tattersalls International 4*-S two weeks ago where Price pipped Tomoto, and at Luhmuhlen the Kiwi star is partnering the grey mare he steered to victory at the Irish fixture, Ascona M.
Tomoto however is this time riding the exciting Irish Sport Horse Brookpark Vikenti who already posted a win at Chatsworth (GBR) and a runner-up placing at Ballindenisk (IRL) over the last two months.
Sam Watson and Tullabeg Flamenco finished fourth in the 4*-S at Tattersalls and the Irish pair are lying 13th in the 5*-L at Luhmuhlen where the Carlow man is also in 32nd spot in the 4*-S with Imperial Sky. German riders hold nine of the top-ten placings here, headed up by Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke who are separated by just 0.1 after Dressage. Multiple champion Michael Jung lies third with the Irish-bred mare Creevagh Cooley and he’ll be first out on the cross-country track tomorrow with this one because he has two more to ride later in the day.
Quotes after 4*-S Dressage:
Julia Krajweski: “The course is more demanding than last year, absolutely worthy of a German Championship. Especially 5abc and the water complexes are very technical. I don’t think it#ll be too easy to stay within the time as there are many questions during the course that require precise riding. Luckily Sam is a very fast horse with a good canter.”
Sam Watson: “I think the course is nicely built. It’s a very positive course and should be fun to ride. From my point of view the two water complexes and the big tables in front of the last water are the biggest challenges.”
Dressage results here https://www.rechenstelle.de/de/veranstaltungen/2019/luhmuhlen-3/