Kiwi showjumper's dream run continues

Katie McVean and Dunstan Delphi. File photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Kiwi showjumper Katie McVean is on track to make the final of the World Cup (Monday NZ time) after a near faultless round in Leipzig, Germany this morning.

McVean and Dunstan Delphi's eighth-place efforts today moved them to fourth overall.

They gently nudged a couple of fences, and while they finished with everything still in its cups, picked up a single time fault after coming home .72 of a second outside the time allowed.

The bay mare was bred by the McVeans from dad Jeff's own World Cup mare Flower Power.

"Delphi is just amazing," said McVean.

"She was so fast yesterday (in her speed round) that I needed to slow her down a bit and get her jumping without too much speed. She was only a fraction over the time so I'm really pleased with her."

The next round in the World Cup is tomorrow.

McVean's efforts have propelled her to New Zealand's most successful World Cup result, up with Daniel Meech's 12th placing at the Athens Olympic Games and on the back of her notching New Zealand's best ever World Equestrian Games result with her 38th individual placing in 2010.

In Kentucky, both Mark Todd on NZB Grass Valley and Joe Myer on Snip posted solid 51.8 point dressage scores to place them well within touch of the leaders of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.

- NZHERALD STAFF