Oliver Townend holds commanding lead in Maryland 5 Star dressage on 16-year-old Cooley Master Class: ‘He’s never felt better’

Oliver Townend has cruised into an early lead after the first half of the Maryland 5 Star dressage today (Thursday, 14 October).

The British rider and the experienced Cooley Master Class, owned by Angela Hislop, scored 21.1 to sit 6.9 penalties ahead of the pair of US riders who share second place. This is a personal best mark at any FEI competition for the horse.

The test that Oliver and the 16-year-old double Kentucky Three-Day Event winner Cooley Master Class produced was leagues ahead of any other performance today, showing bounce and cadence in the trot and flawless flying changes. The pair only had one mark below a seven and reaped a 10 from Mark Weissbecker at M for harmony.

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Article written by: Pippa Roome