Maryland 5 Star first trot-up update after one late withdrawal

Twenty-three horses were presented at the Mars Maryland 5 Star first trot-up today (15 October) and all were passed fit to start the competition.

The horses came before the ground jury, consisting of Britain’s Sandy Phillips and the USA’s Beatrice di Grazia and Robert Stevenson, in bright sunshine but with a brisk breeze blowing.

As usual the horses who have flown in from Europe were presented first at the Maryland 5 Star first trot-up, presented by Dubarry, to keep them separate from the North America-based horses for biosecurity reasons.

This year, four horses have made that trip and the first to trot up was Quindiva, ridden by Britain’s Alex Bragg . The mare, who was third at Badminton Horse Trials in 2024, appeared alert but relaxed and Alex looked smart in cream trousers, a n