Austin O’Connor and his star steed Colorado Blue are primed for a history-making success at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials after a sensational cross country this afternoon.
The Corkman and ‘Salty’ lie in second position ahead of tomorrow’s final show jumping phase, just 6.2 penalties behind leader Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo.
The Cork Olympian will need some luck on his side but the way he has performed with Colorado Blue this weekend means he is in with a major shout of emulating the only previous Irish rider to win here – Captain Harry Freeman-Jackson, 62 years ago in 1963.
O’Connor is no stranger to historic results, his five-star Maryland win being the first from an Irish eventer in 58 years, while he can also boast a pair of Badminton podium finishes to his name.
The pair added just 0.8 time faults to their personal best dressage score and sit on a total of 28.6. Canter leads on 22.4 penalties, with New Zealand’s Tim Price in third aboard Vitali, a further 3.3 behind on 31.9.
O’Connor said: “That was great – he’s great. It was tough out there. It was without a doubt one of the toughest he’s faced and had to be at his very best.
“He jumped super, really wanted to jump between the flags and he galloped home right to the line. He’s the horse of a lifetime, he’s taken me to two Olympics and three or four five-star podiums.
“There’s not too many like him that come along – he owes me nothing. I’m blessed.”