Laurie and Mark finished 33rd, a far cry from her sixth equal at the same event in Leipzig in 2011 aboard her fabulous horse Dunstan Delphi, whom she sold to Saudi Arabian buyers.
Undeterred Laurie and Mark returned to the arena 24 hours later and won the US$75,000 grand prix, prevailing in a three-way jumpoff.
Laurie put her hand up for a mistake in the world final and she hoped the horse would not remember.
"I was a little bit worried after what happened the night before. I hoped he hadn't got a fright.
"It took him a couple [of jumps] to trust me but then once we were away he was really good."
When Laurie, formerly McVean, started riding ponies at around 6, among her rivals and friends was Melanie Purcell.
Mark was Purcell's horse - her mother June Berrington is the horse's owner - and when Mark was 6, she had high hopes of taking him overseas. He stands 17 hands tall, is a 10-year-old and in Laurie's words, "quite a character".
"He destroys everything. You can't have anything hanging near him. If you put any rugs on him he'll rip them."
Still Purcell realised she was on to something special.
"She knew he had a lot of potential and was always the horse she'd have taken overseas. That was always her goal. But he was so young back then, it was amazing she could see that."
Some phone conversations can last forever in the memory.
"I still remember the day Mel called me. She didn't really tell me what was wrong, just that she hadn't been very well and would I mind riding the horse," Laurie said.
"At the time I didn't think much of it. Now I still remember that phone call." Purcell died of cancer in 2011. She was 24.
In a sense Laurie has done her friend proud, as has the horse.
"Yeah, I think she [Purcell] helped me out a little bit," Laurie said. "Everybody cried. It was very emotional."
And now it's onwards with the Rio Olympics now in her sights. Having tested Mark against quality international opposition, she has a clearer idea of the horse's potential.
Laurie's parents, former Australian Olympic rider Jeff, and Vicki McVean, and her husband Jackson have returned to New Zealand, leaving Laurie and 9-month-old baby Grace to settle into Calgary for the Spruce Meadows series in June. It's five weeks of shows over six weeks at four and five star class.
Laurie also has a second horse, Frangipanne di Toxandria, another 10-year-old, to keep her busy.
Qualifying for Rio is in Germany later in the year.
With other impressive showjumpers including long-time Danish based Bruce Goodin, Sam McIntosh, Florida-based Sharn Wordley and Horse of the Year Olympic Cup winner Claudia Hay, there are certainly the makings of a team for Rio.
It'll be tough, but after her Las Vegas experience, Laurie knows she is in the game.
