Mark Todd (NZL) has flown to the US for this weekend’s Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (April 28-May 1) in a bid to keep up momentum in the HSBC FEI Classics™. Todd interrupted celebrations for his magnificent win at Badminton last weekend and within 24 hours was on a plane en route to Kentucky, where today he will trot up NZB Grass Valley, a horse that knows its way around the Kentucky Horse Park having been a key member of New Zealand’s bronze medal team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ last year.

Both Todd and fellow traveller Mary King (GBR), third at Badminton, have said that the lure of the generous prize-money on offer in the HSBC FEI Classics™ is making them plan their CCI4* seasons carefully. King, a member of Britain’s triumphant gold medal team last year, is making a two-pronged attack: she rides her home-bred mare Kings Temptress, seventh at Burghley last year, and the exciting prospect Fernhill Urco, a horse that had clocked up useful CCI3* results before spending most of last year on the sidelines. Other overseas visitors in the 53-strong field are former (2006) Kentucky winner Clayton Fredericks (AUS) with the German-bred mare Be My Guest, third at Burghley last year, and William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Oliver Townend (GBR) who have three HSBC FEI Classics™ titles between them. Fox-Pitt, last year’s winner on Cool Mountain, this time rides the French-bred Neuf des Coeurs, winner of Blair Castle CCI3* (GBR) last year, and Townend has the nine-year-old ODT Sonas Rovatio, eighth at Boekelo. A large home contingent is headed by three former winners: Philip Dutton with the veteran Truluck, fourth at Burghley in 2009, and new ride Fernhill Eagle, second at Fair Hill CCI3*; triple victor Kim Severson, who has Tipperary Liadhnan back at top level, and Karen O’Connor, who will ride Quintus 54. It is expected that the Cross-Country course will have a different look and feel. Derek di Grazia (USA) has succeeded Mike Etherington-Smith as designer and says he is planning “a few surprises”. However, the 45-effort track will run in the same direction as last year’s event, following a similar route to that used at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. “My whole approach is to take advantage of all we worked on last year,” says di Grazia, who worked as Etherington-Smith’s assistant for three years. “There are a lot of great features to be used from last year, but I will slowly be incorporating my own ideas.” Keep in touch with the action through the FEI’s daily reports and full results on www.rk3de.org HSBC Training Bursary:HSBC, the platinum partner of FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics™ since 2008 and is the title sponsor. At the centre of this sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport of Eventing at every level. HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary, which is a unique award presented to the highest placed rider at each HSBC FEI Classics™ leg who completes a 4* event for the very first time. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of $1,000, which is spent on sessions with a trainer of the athletes’ choice approved by the FEI and National Federation. HSBC FEI Classics™ Calendar of Events in 20111. 21-25 April – Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR)2. 28 April-1 May – Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA)  3. 16-19 June – Luhmühlen presented by E.ON Avacon (GER)4. 1-4 September – Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR)5. 13-16 October – Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA)   HSBC FEI Classics™ Leaderboard in 2011 (after 1 out of 5 events)1 Mark Todd (NZL) 15 points2Piggy French (GBR) 12 points3 Mary King (GBR) 10 points4 Sam Griffiths (AUS) 8 points5 Niklas Lindback (SWE) 6 points6 Caroline Powell (NZL) 5 points7 Nicola Wilson (GBR) 4 points8 Laura Collett (GBR) 3 points9 Marina Köhncke (GER) 2 points10 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 1 point The HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 season will begin at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) on 12-16 October 2011. This is also the location for the final leg of the 2011 season. Competitors therefore have the unique opportunity to secure points for both the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 and 2012 seasons by competing at Les Etoiles de Pau. 1.    Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) – 12-16 October 20112.    Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) – 18-20 November 20113.    Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) –  26-29 April 20124.    Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) – 4-7 May 20125.    Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER) – 14-17 June 20126.    The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) – 30 August-2 September 2012 HSBC FEI Classics™ Final Standings for 20101 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 39 points – US$ 150,000 (Series champion)2 Andreas Dibowski (GER) 37 – $75,0003 Caroline Powell (NZL) 21 – $ 50,0004 Mary King (GBR) 18 – $33,0005 Paul Tapner (AUS) 15 – $25,000(Full standings on www.fei.org)Photo caption: Mark Todd is warmly congratulated by the FEI President Princess Haya upon his fourth Badminton victory two days ago. (c) Kit Houghton.