Equestrian: Young gun finds top form

Mark Todd. Photo / Greg Bowker

The master and his student took centre stage today for New Zealand in eventing's dressage phase at the world equestrian games in Kentucky.

Equestrian legend Mark Todd aboard Grass Valley and young gun Jonathan Paget (Muriwai) on Clifton Promise both posted personal best scores, with Todd notching 48.5 points and Paget 44.

With 40 of the 80-strong field now completed their dressage scores, Paget is sitting in sixth spot, with Todd 13th.

Caroline Powell on the sometimes honorary MacMacDonald, scored 57.2. The handsome chestnut, who has strong Kentucky ties through his bloodlines, bit his rider this morning, leaving her with a sore finger, and was a little tight in his dressage test.

Todd has been working closely with Paget and was chuffed to see his pupil do so well.

"When we had our practice event with the Australians Promise went really well, so I knew he was capable, it was just a matter of putting it all together on the day," he said.

"It was very satisfying out there... and there's still more to come."

Paget and Promise rode into the dressage arena looking absolutely relaxed - but inside it was a different story.

"I've been freaking all week - the travel, work and atmosphere...some horses step up, while others get worse - he's stepped up beautifully."

Paget is riding as an individual in the competition, with Todd, Andrew Nicholson, Caroline Powell and Clarke Johnstone riding as a team.

While he was disappointed not to be named in the team, he says it give him extra incentive to do well, while taking some pressure off.

"I'd planned to work him quite hard this morning before the test but he came out so settled, I only ended up working him for 20 minutes."

He's wondering whether it was the special buffing up that Todd gave his top hat before the test.

Todd was somewhat surprised with his own score, saying he'd hoped for 50 to 55 points, so to achieve 48.5 was absolutely brilliant. His injured achilles tendon is not affecting him at all.

But everything was in sync.

"It's taken a while to get back to where I was in 2000, and there is not the same expectation now. It's been about getting my team back together and competitive," Todd said.

"I am certainly not a favourite for an individual place and I'm really enjoying some of the younger ones in the team."

Todd says he has a slightly different perspective these days.

"I'm just thrilled," he said. "To get a 48 - it's amazing. But it's everything coming together at the right time really - between the vet, massage, acupuncturist and others, it's all working well and he (Grass Valley) feels really good."

Todd is looking forward to the cross country on Saturday (US time), which he said was both challenging and fair.

"It's at maximum height and spread - it's a nice four star championship track. Grass Valley is an honest trier of a horse and hopefully he'll cope with this ok."

The dressage continues tomorrow when Nicholson on Nereo and Johnstone on Orient Express will do their tests, with the cross country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday.

The field is being led by Simone Deitermann (Germany) on Free Easy NRW on 36 penalty points, with her compatriot Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas on 41.3 and William Fox Pitt (Great Britain) and Cool Mountain on 42.

Germany is leading the teams, with Australia second, Sweden third and Great Britain fourth. New Zealand is in eighth spot.

- NZPA