EQUESTRIAN:Australian Lucinda Fredericks' bid for a family double is still on course as she leads the Mitsubishi Motors field after two days of dressage at the Badminton three-day event, reports Grania Willis.
Fredericks' husband Clayton triumphed at the American four-star in Kentucky last weekend and Lucinda, who won at Burghley last autumn, has brought the same horse, Headley Britannia, for a crack at the Mitsubishi Motors trophy. If she were to win, the Fredericks as a couple would have emulated Pippa Funnell's Grand Slam win of all three of the four-star events - Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley. But the $250,000 prizepot goes only to one rider who completes the hat-trick in one season.
Athens Olympic silver medallist Kim Severson, making her Badminton debut, is a single penalty off the pace with Winsome Adante. Another Badminton debutante, Zara Phillips, is also handily placed in sixth. The world and European champion is 6.4 penalties behind the leader after a solid test with her double gold medal horse, Toytown.
Ireland's Jonty Evans is in equal 30th spot on Cregwarrior, 14.6 penalties adrift of the top slot. Austin O'Connor is in 41st with Hobby du Mee, while Sarah Wardell and Kincluny are 74th.
