Equestrian: Kiwi Tim Price to take top ranking into World Equestrian Games

Tim Price's victory in the final four-star event of the equestrian season has bumped him to No 2 on the world eventing rider rankings.

And what's more, 39-year-old Price will be the highest- ranked rider competing at the World Equestrian Games in North Carolina this month.

The No 1 ranked eventer, Britain's Oliver Townend, was controversially omitted from their team for WEG.

Price is at the top of a quality group of New Zealand riders in the world's top 20.

His wife Jonelle Price is ranked No 5, with multiple four-star champions Andrew Nicholson at No 7 and Mark Todd at No 9 rounding out the top class quartet in the top 10.

Clarke Johnstone, winner of the Adelaide four star event late last year and who would most likely have been picked for the WEG team but for injury to his star horse Balmoral Sensation, is ranked No 19.

Britain, with three of the four top-ranked riders, is the only country who can match New Zealand's standing in the discipline.

The Prices have had a stellar year.

Tim Price's win at Burghley followed back-to-back four star wins for his wife at Badminton and Luhmuhlen in Germany, giving them the most recent three trophies on their mantelpiece.

Four of the six classic crowns are currently in possession of New Zealand riders.

The win was also Price's second in the elite class, matching his wife's pair.

Only Britain, with six, have more riders in the top 20 than New Zealand's five. The pair will arrive in North Carolina among the top picks to be vying for the title.

Todd is also in the New Zealand team, along with fellow veteran Blyth Tait and Dan Jocelyn.

The top 20 rankings is rounded out by four Americans, two Australians and one rider from each of France, Germany and Ireland.