Equestrian: Grayling well placed after dressage

9.00am

An outstanding dressage test by Taranaki equestrian Matthew Grayling has him highly placed against the world's best eventers at the FEI World Cup Final in Pau, France.

Grayling and his Olympic mount Revo are lying fourth after the dressage, scoring 45.4 penalties to the 42.8 of Swedish leader Linda Algotson.

Grayling, who initially came back to his Taranaki dairy farm after his effort as a member of the New Zealand equestrain team at the Athens Olympics, has made a special return to Europe to be reunited with Revo for this event.

The combination qualified for France after winning the New Zealand World Cup round in the Waikato earlier this year.

A second Kiwi rider, Andrew Nicholson, is 31st equal on Flush Banker with a score of 59.8, while the third New Zealander Joe Meyer recorded 74.3 to be 46th.

In tonight's cross country, Nicholson has drawn the number three start position meaning he must act as a trailblazer, while Grayling has the advantage of being third from last and can capitalise on Nicholson's experiences.

Another Olympian Daniel Jocelyn was qualified but opted not to contest the event.

- NZPA