Tim Price riding SPARTACO
Tim Price has wound out the season with another podium finish, this time aboard Spartaco in the CCI4*-L at Pratroni del Vivaro Eventing in Italy. The world no.3 was in third spot from the get-go, scoring 26.7 penalty points in the dressage, adding 8.8 time in the cross country, and keeping a clean slate in the showjumping to finish on a total of 35.5. He was one of six combinations to come home clear and inside time in the final test.
“Spartaco is a lovely horse, he really is and an exciting one as he develops into a 5* horse next year, all things going to plan,” said Tim. “He came through this very well. He jumped lovely today and just had a bit of time yesterday . . . but the time was tight, I think I was third fastest.”
He was very pleased with the horse. “Patroni was a very good experience,” said Tim. Patroni is where the 2022 World Equestrian Games eventing will be held.
“It is an amazing place – the ground is incredible and the potential is incredible there too. It will be an exciting place next year for WEG. So it was good to have a scout about, learn all the good restaurants, eat some good Italian food and just soak in the beauty of that part of Italy.”
Spartaco is a 10-year-old grey who has been with Tim his whole international career. They have been top 10 in two of their last three CCI4*-L starts. The Italian bred horse is by Nadir di San Patrignano, out of Lucky Girl Del Marganai (who is by Lucky Boy) and is owned by Tim who is looking forward to getting back to the UK with early starts being from kids climbing all over him rather than horses.
Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Viamant du Matz came from behind as the only combination to come home clear and inside time in the Giuseppe Della Chiesa-designed cross country, to win the class on a score of 27.5 with Maxime Livio (FRA) and Carouzo Bois Marotin second on 35. There were 18 on the original start list with 13 completing all three tests.
Kiwi Andrew Bennie was president of both the CCI4*-L and CCI2*-L ground juries.
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison