Olivia Barton leads the CCI3*L dressage with APH Sodoku. Image: Michelle Terlato Photography.

Olivia Barton & APH Sodoku lead Adelaide CCI3*L after the dressage

Inside Adelaide | Presented by RB Sellars

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By Equestrian Life

Competition began today at Adelaide Equestrian Festival with the Racing SA CCI3*L dressage taking place in front of the grandstand.

Twenty-one combinations rode down the centreline for judges Nicoli Fife (H), Seppo Laine (C) and Beverley Shandley (B), and it was 24-year-old Olivia Barton who finished at the top of the leaderboard with 8-year-old APH Sodoku on 29.9 penalties (70.06%).

APH Sodoku is a homebred warmblood (Olivia’s mother, Carlene Barton, runs her own boutique stud, APH Sport Horses). Speaking to Equestrian following a top ten finish with the gelding in the CCI2*L at Melbourne International 3DE last year, Olivia described Sodoku as an exciting horse for the future: “Mum rode him up until the start of [2023] and then she’s given him to me to continue taking up the grades. He’s very fancy and he’s quirky, but he’s a lovely, lovely horse.”

In second place behind Olivia and Sodoku in the CCI3*L is Jade Findlay and Piks Dancing Queen on 30.8, followed by Sam Woods and SS Eight Count on 31.8. Gemma Tinney is fourth with PHS Hilton on 32.2, while Olivia Shore and Dreamcatcher round out the top five on 32.4.

With fewer than three penalties separating the top five ahead of Saturday’s cross country, the CCI3*L is set to be very hotly contested.

View the CCI3*L dressage results here.

Competition continues at Adelaide Equestrian Festival on Friday with the CCI4*S and CCI5*L dressage.

Published 18 April 2024.

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