Aiken, SC – March 1, 2024 –  A steady downpour didn’t deter strong performances from some of the top-ranked eventing riders in the world who are in Aiken to compete for $100,000 at the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services.

Following two phases of competition, Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar), owned by Hyperion Stud, maintained a lead set in the dressage this morning, adding no jumping or time penalties to their score of 26.5.

“He’s never been here before, so that was part of the idea,” Coleman stated. “You know, we’re trying to just continue to season him for, you know, some some bigger things in his career, he’s kind of entering sort of his prime, I would say. Our plan is to not do the five-star this year, so we decided that this event could serve as well. And we’re going to use the, you know, the atmosphere and sort of the five-star feel that it gives you here, which I think very beneficial, and being able to work in through that test, and continue to try to polish that up is important for us.”

Slated as the favorite to win based on past performance statistics by EquiRatings, Coleman and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding now find themselves with just over 10 penalties in hand ahead of tomorrow’s cross country finale. With an optimum time of 4 minutes, 18 seconds, Captain Mark Phillips’ cross country track promises to be influential and challenging. Historically, time is difficult to make at this event.

“For him, I don’t know if it really suits any horse that well,” Coleman said of the condensed format. “But that’s part of why you do it, I think. You can get better from doing stuff like this. He’s a really good horse, and he’s gotten way better at his cross country at reading the questions, and you’re gonna think it with me out there. But this will be a good early season test of where that rideability is and where his brain is.”