Equestrian: Todd on target for fourth Badminton

Double Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd is poised to add a fourth Badminton horse trial title to his collection of honours after taking the lead on the second day of the prestigious three-day event in England.

He leads a strong New Zealand contingent, which has three riders in the top 10 with just the showjumping phase to complete the competition today.

Todd, Andrew Nicholson and Caroline Powell all featured in the bronze medal-winning team at last year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky where Nicholson also won an individual bronze.

All three completed the cross-country phase in style, with clear rounds on all six of their horses.

Todd was last to go on NZB Land Vision, knowing that a clear round inside the time would takethem into the lead.

However, the weary horse struggled in the latter part of the course, with Todd nursing him home over the last fences, ending 17 seconds over the time to incur 6.8 time penalties.

Todd's lead over Germany's Marina Kohncke and Calma Schelly is just 0.2 penalties.

Kohncke was held on the course due to a fallen rider and her time was adjusted late in the day after she had initially been told she was in the lead over Todd.

One show jumping rail, which costs four penalties, now separates the top 10.

Todd was full of praise for his plucky 10-year-old mount, who was tackling his first four-star event. "He was great, so game and genuine - he really tried," Todd said. "I'm delighted with him. He definitely got tired and I really had to look after him to get home."

The allowed time proved difficult to achieve in the warm weather, with many horses looking very tired as they came to the finish.

Although 50 riders jumped clear, only seven were able to achieve the time. New Zealand started the day with Nicholson and Avebury going clear inside the time even though they took the long option at fence 15, a complex which had caused many problems last year.

Nicholson's performance in getting two penalty free rounds was outstanding. He now has his two rides very well placed - Nereo lies fourth, and Avebury 11th. The third New Zealander, Powell, brought her 2010 Burghley winner, the 18-year-old Lenamore, to the competition but a tense dressage test left them well down in 24th going into the cross-country. Lenamore showed his relish for this phase with a sparkling round which belied his age and moved them up into 10th place.

The Britain-based New Zealand trio have vast experience at Badminton: Todd won the event in 1980, 1994 and 1996; Nicholson has competed there a record 29 times, with his best finish to date being fifth in 2007 while Powell has twice finished fourth at the trials.

Overnight leaders Ruth Edge and Two Thyme looked hesitant at some of the early fences and then disaster struck at the 24th fence when a tired looking Two Thyme struggled over the first of the brushes and was unable to bounce out over the second. Following a further refusal they retired.

The next hurdle for competitors is getting through the morning's veterinary inspection before the final showjumping phase of the event.

- NZPA