Three-time Olympic medallist William Fox-Pitt is quietly confident his horse Chilli Morning will succeed at the Kentucky Three Day Event as he goes in search of a third title in four years.
Fox-Pitt claimed his maiden Kentucky victory aboard Cool Mountain in 2010 and, last year, 12 months after fellow Brit Mary King was the winner, he triumphed again with Parklane Hawk.
The 44-year-old, who won team silver at the London 2012 Olympics with King, Nicola Wilson, Zara Phillips and Kristina Cook, will also ride Seacookie at the Kentucky Three Day Event.
Fox-Pitt finished as the runner-up with Seacookie at Burghley in 2010 before winning with Parklane Hawk in 2011 with his victory at Kentucky thereafter boosting his bid for the Grand Slam of Eventing.
Consecutive victories at the Gran Slam events – Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton – earn a rider the honour however Fox-Pitt was denied as weather forced a cancellation at the latter last year.
And so the process starts again with Fox-Pitt, who also finished 27th in the individual eventing competition at London 2012 last summer, content ahead of the start of Kentucky.
“I have been lucky to have competed in Kentucky several times now. I have had a few good years there and a few not so good years,” said Fox-Pitt.
“But it’s full of atmosphere, excitement and a lot of enthusiasm with the crowd. They enjoy watching all the competitors, whether you are British, American or anything else.
“The cross-country course is always quite demanding, quite hilly, and the course usually does play a part in the final outcome.
“Preparations have gone well. At the Pau four-star in October he [Chilli Morning] gave me another good ride. I am hopeful we will be able to build on that.
“In Pau I was first to go, which is never a great draw, but we have a more favourable draw in Kentucky. He will have more time to settle down and relax. He could go well.”
© Sportsbeat 2013