October 20, 2023 
For the past three years, British Olympian Oliver Townend has made the trek across the Atlantic to contest the MARS Maryland 5 Star in Elkton, Cecil County.
And each time prior he has landed on the podium.
In 2021, Townend took the lead after dressage aboard Cooley Master Class on a spectacular score of 21.1. He ultimately finished second to USA’s Boyd Martin and On Cue by the smallest of margins—just 0.1 penalties.
In 2022, the Tokyo 2020 team gold medalist finished on his dressage score, 29.9, to land in third. Again just 0.1 penalties separated him from second place finisher Tamie Smith (USA) and Danito. (Then world no. 1 Tim Price (NZL) took the win on Coup De Coeur Dudevin on 28.2.)
This year, Townend is back as the current world no. 1 and is once again atop the leaderboard in Maryland after the second day of dressage. Riding Cooley Rosalent, he shaved a point off fellow Brit Piggy March’s leading score to finish on 23.1.
March was relegated to second (24.2), while countryman William Fox-Pitt moved into third (26.1) for an all-British podium.
“Couldn’t tell you how happy I am with Cooley Rosalent,” said Townend. “Obviously, she’s still very young and inexperienced at this level, but she’s done everything that we’ve ever asked of her at the level below and I love coming here to Maryland, I’ve had good experiences the last couple of years. Excited to bring her here and see how she coped.”
The Irish Sport Horse mare is just nine years of age. Maryland marks her second ever CCI5*-L start. The only other at the level: the Longines Luhmuhlen CCI5*-L this past summer, where they finished in the top 30.
What the mare lacks in experience she makes up in quality.
“I felt like I was a little bit behind schedule outside in terms of I didn’t completely get her relaxed [in the warm up]. And when she came in [the arena], she pricked her ears, lifted her head and I could ride her forwards,” said Townend.
“Any little mistake was me probably trying to over-tell her that something was happening like the last flying change. If I had just cantered across and asked for a flying change, she would have done one. But I kind of said. ‘Okay, one more or more movement left’ sort of thing and she then anticipated, but I loved the way she coped with that.
“She gave me a really nice feeling in the trot. And yeah, I’m just thrilled that we’re in the position we’re in.”
Heading into Saturday’s cross country phase, Townend and Cooley Rosalent’s Equiratings odds have jumped 11% to edge slightly in front of March with a 35% win chance.
Boyd Martin and Contessa are the highest placed American pair, finishing on a personal best of 28.8.
The MARS Maryland 5 Star continues Saturday with CCI5*-L ccross country starting at 1:30 pm on USEF Network.
