Red-hot Taranaki rider Matthew Grayling is clear favourite for top honours at this week's national three-day event Championships at Taupo, as the Athens Olympian looks to maintain his unbeaten run for 2005.
Grayling has already won New Zealand's FEI World Cup qualifying round in the Waikato and this month's national one-day championships at Tauherenikau.
To complete the hattrick at Taupo would be unprecedented.
Although his new mount Gordon is running hot, Grayling will have to see off a record 35 rivals in the advanced, or three-star, division at Taupo.
Gordon is likely to be aimed at November's trans-Tasman test against Australia in Adelaide, while Grayling has the satisfaction of knowing his Athens ride, Revo, has returned from Europe in good shape and will campaign again in the spring.
Bulls rider Bryce Newman pushed Grayling hardest at the one-day championships earlier this month, while Olympic teammate Heelan Tompkins is moving through the grades on an up-and-coming horse, Steele River.
Competition for the advanced grade begins on Thursday with dressage. Cross country takes place on Saturday and the event finishes with showjumping on Sunday.
- NZPA
Equestrian: Grayling starts favourite at nationals
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