Equestrian: One rail costs Goodin big bucks

One rail cost New Zealand Olympic equestrian rider Bruce Goodin a C$40,000 ($48,000) bonus yesterday in the Molson Cup International Open in Canada.

Goodin and 11-year-old Gisborne-bred Telegraph finished fifth in the speed class, which was won by American Richard Spooner on Quirino 3. Spooner dominated the Molson Six Pack Series last year.

The New Zealand combination took two rails.

Goodin would have won comfortably with just one rail down. Each rail dropped adds four seconds to time. But Spooner managed to snatch the glory, guiding his horse home in 87.58s to Goodin's 90.58s.

Goodin, 36, who is based in Sweden, was thrilled with how he and Telegraph had gone at the show, the richest in the world, but annoyed they didn't take the final leg.

"He started off jumping great but just got tired towards the end. We were going fast and the ground caught up with him. It had been raining all night so was very wet underfoot."

Yesterday's event follows Goodin's win in the international BP Cup the previous day.

Olympian Goodin and Telegraph were too quick around the course, which included derby fences, banks and ditches, coming home in 82.207s. Briton Michael Whitaker and Laconda 25 were second, clocking 84.624s.

Goodin earned $31,500 for the win, and an $18,250 bonus because it was his second win in the Molson Canadian Six Pack series.

- NZPA