UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Phillip Dutton on Possante won the CCI four star Eventing at Plantation Field on Sept. 21.

Phillip Dutton on Possante in stadium jumping (Photo by Randolph PR)Dutton and Boyd Martin, the two who have been the backbone of U.S. international teams for the past decade, placed first and second. 

Dutton led through all thee phases, finishing on 26.9, adding just 2.4 time faults to his first place dressage score of 24.5 after going clean both in stadium jumping and over the fences on the cross country.

Martin on Commando 3 placed second, adding just 5.6 time faults on cross country to his third place dressage score of 26..7.

Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake moved up from eighth in dressage on 29.1 to sixth after jumping, and then to third on 32.7, adding just 3.6 time on cross country.

There were 28 starters with only six eliminated or retired.

"Possante came from England, but he had a few issues when he came, so I took my time with him," said Dutton. "He's pretty established now, and he's pretty good in all three phases. He's good on the flat. Lauren Hough has been helping me with jumping. He looks like he has a good future."

 

"HE'S GOING next to Morven four star, " said Dutton."I was tempted to take him to Fair Hill five star, but he hasn't done a four star long yet, and he's not qualified for next year, so the first priority was to get him qualified.

PhillipD utton on Possante (Photo by Randolph PR)"I'm getting to the end of my career,, so i just want to do the best I can with him and to produce him as well as possible.

"The cross country caused a fair amount of trouble," he said. "The terrain has lots of up and down, and that makes it difficult. There are a lot of riders who don't have the experience of riding on hilly terrain."

Chester County is close to drought conditions, but Dutton said the course was in good condition.

"We had rain on Wednesday, and Jamie Hicks has been taking good care of it throughout the year," said Dutton.  "This was a strong four star course and a good preparation for Morven."

"I had a good run," said Martin, who was riding Commando, who was second in the Kentucky five star earlier this year and was the alternate for the Paris Olympics. "I was using this as a prep for the Maryland five star."

"Plantation was run under new management, and I was extremely impressed." said Martin. "There was new footing in the dressage and jumping rings. It was a big, bold track cross country that gave horses a good experience,"

Martin will be competing on Luke 140 along with Commando at Fair Hill.