After the 20 CCI4*-S Qualifiers, the grand finale of the US Equestrian Open steps up to a CCI4*-L at Morven Park. To qualify for the $200,000 Final, riders must earn an MER at any one of the Qualifiers. So far, 76 athletes have earned their ticket, with five more qualifiers still to come. Who of them has demonstrated 4*-L winning form?

 

Now, riders can also buy into the Final without having MER'ed at a Qualifier - provided they meet all other 4*-L prerequisites - but here, we're going to focus on the pre-qualified athletes. We looked at the 4*-L results of the 76 Final-eligible riders and compared them to the 4*-L winning standard.

 

Across the last 20 4*-L events on US soil, the winners averaged a first-phase score of 31.8 and a final score of 35.3. Looking beyond the averages, eighteen of the 20 winners scored a sub-35.0 dressage score and a slight majority of them (12), finished on a sub-35.0 score.

 

 

Of the 76 Final-qualified riders, 11 have scored three or more sub-35.0 dressage tests at US 4*-L events within the last few years (2021 onward).

 

 

 

Table-topper Tamie Smith has earned three of her 12 scores with Kynan who she has entered for the Final. 

 

Boyd Martin's eight sub-35.0 scores came from just nine US 4*-L starts since 2021, and one was at Tryon this spring with Barney Rubble who he has entered for the Final. 

 

Caroline Pamukcu earned three of her sub-35s with King's Especiale, HSH Double Sixteen, and HSH Blake - all three of whom are entered for the Final.

 

Just 10 of the 76 Final-qualified riders have finished sub-35.0 at recent US 4*-L events (2021 onward).

 

 

With Commando 3, Boyd Martin won the 2023 Morven Park 4*-L on a sub-35.0 finishing score. In fact, of his five 4*-L sub-35s since 2021, he won four of them and placed third in the other. He hasn't yet won a 4*-L with any of his current Final entries, but he is a dominant rider at the level. 

 

Mia Farley earned her sub-35 at the 2022 Morven Park 4*-L with Phelps, finishing third. For the Final, Mia so far has Invictus entered. The Final will be Invictus' second 4*-L after finishing eighth in the 2024 TerraNova 4*-L. Invictus produced his international dressage PB at that 4*-L, a 27.9. A cross-country 20 and jumping penalties saw he and Mia finishing with a high score on the weekend but he hasn't had any cross-country jumping faults in any of his four 4*-S runs since then.

 

Ultimately, when we look at the top and tail of a US 4*-L - first phase and final score - sub-35.0 is a good number to keep in mind. Certainly, some of our early entries have already shown they can do it. 

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