Equestrian: Steele is on top: take that as Gospel

Leading contender for the World Cup showjumping series, Robert Steele, looks set to take out the final today after he finished in the money at the first big jump-off at Ti Papa (Equestrian Centre) yesterday.

Treating the Bayley Classics 1.35m class as a warm-up, he and his horse cruised around the course to be one of five out of 35 starters in the jump-off. Steele was the only one of the serious contenders in the series to go clear within the time, although fellow farmer Maurice Beatson and his horse My Gollywog finished with one time fault after jumping clear.

Beatson, a veteran rider with top staying power, is well known for his fiercely competitive riding and remains Steele's closest rival. Despite being eight points behind Steele before this last round, he cannot be discounted. There is only one berth for New Zealand at the Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur in April and it may rankle Beatson to be runner-up for the second year in a row.

Beatson, who represented New Zealand at the World Cup in Holland 12 years ago, was happy with his clear "warm-up" round and is upbeat about his chances in today's final. "There's not much in it," he said, well aware of the extra points possible in the final.

Both Steele and Beatson decided to rest their horses from further competition before the final. When Gospel, a relatively young horse, performed a calmly athletic round, the 37-year-old Steele was happy to come third behind youngsters Anna Trent and Mark Brooks. "I was really pleased with him [Gospel] and was not going to put the pressure on him before the final," he said.

A rising star, Trent is a petite 20-year-old who has already outclassed much older riders in Grand Prix rounds this season. She set the pace at Ti Papa with a superbly fast round on Lexicon NZPH to just beat Brooks on Pico Bello. She will be aiming for the national title of the Young Rider series which continues until late March.

Lisa Coupe and Katie McVean are the other serious contenders for under-21 riders.

Other World Cup finalists include Claire Wilson on Sacred Hill Answer who is ahead of her husband Simon riding Vitapower Swinger by four points - the same number which separate her and Beatson.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY