Dargun shoots to the top

Piggy March cements her partnership with Dargun, while Kitty King takes the other CCI4*-S at the first British international of the season

- GEMMA REDRUP

Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market (1), Norfolk

PIGGY MARCH and Kitty King dominated at the first British CCI4*-S of the season when between them they took first and second in both four-star sections.

From her eight rides, only one of Piggy’s rides finished outside the top 10, but it was Dargun, a 13-year-old owned by Jane Del Missier, who provided the highlight. The chestnut, who was campaigned up to five-star level by Emily King before Piggy took over last season, completed on his 26.9 dressage in CCI4*-S section C.

“He was really cool in all three phases,” said Piggy. “Last year was a building year for our partnership and I haven’t been that competitive with him up until this point. But this year it’s very much a case of it’s either going to work or it isn’t at the top level.

“He has had his health issues in the past, including being prone to tying up, which obviously would have made life a bit difficult for him, so coming here this weekend was an interesting exercise to see if he was still up for it. But he felt great, was really genuine, and did the tricky fences really well.”

Piggy also finished second in CCI4*-S section B with her 2019 Badminton winner, Vanir Kamira, who scooted around like a mare on a mission to complete on her 28.7 dressage.