Kiwi springs surprise at Badminton

New Zealander Neil Spratt sprung a surprise on the more fancied runners with a delightful dressage test which has put him in fourth place out of 83 starters in the first phase of the Badminton Horse trials yesterday.

Riding the inexperienced Upleadon in his first four-star event, 31-year-old Spratt found the key to the horse's nervousness and produced an outstanding test.

On 41.8 penalties he is just 8 points from the lead which is held by Germany's Kai Ruder riding the French stallion Le Prince des Bois.

Spratt, who has been riding in Britain for nine years, said he was "shocked" to have done so well, but had learnt that the horse needed to relax in the environment and so had ridden him around the Badminton grounds three times during the day before his test.

"He's a worrier, that's his weakness, but I've learnt how to deal with it," he said.

Torrential rain late in the day deluged the last few competitors including Kiwis Joe Meyer (Snip) and Andrew Nicholson (Avebury). Nicholson still managed a good test with his second ride, Avebury, who is only 10. The pair lie in tenth place on 44.3 penalties and are within striking distance of a podium finish.

Joe Meyer was disappointed with his dressage scores, feeling that his horses had been harshly marked. He lies in 22nd place with Snip on 47.7 penalties, and 29th with Clifton Lush on 49.5.

Caroline Powell and Lenamore scored 50.2 penalties, putting them in 33rd place. Competing at his sixth Badminton, Lenamore refused to co-operate with Caroline and the pair have an uphill battle to pull up through the placings over the next two days of competition.

Mark Todd was in unfamiliar territory with his new ride NZB Grass Valley, lying 54th on 55.8 penalties.

- NZPA