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Anyone wanting the definition of "mug" should find the person willing to bet against Mark Todd embellishing his stunning Olympic Games record in Hong Kong in August.
Todd is back in the Games eight years after what was assumed to be his fifth and final tilt at the five-ring circus in Sydney.
The 52-year-old double Olympic champion was last night named in New Zealand's eventing team of five for Hong Kong in August, where he will team up with 10-year-old grey Gandalf.
He and longtime British-based Andrew Nicholson, who will ride Lord Killinghurst, will be making record sixth Games appearances for New Zealand, eclipsing canoeing master Ian Ferguson's five.
Todd decided around Christmas to have a crack at Beijing, liked the look and spirit of Gandalf, then completed the requirements to be added to a New Zealand Equestrian Federation shortlist of eight.
The man named the International Equestrian Federation's rider of the last century was always a shoe-in once he fulfilled the eligibility criteria - which was confirmed with a sixth placing at the Saumur event in France last month - given his uncanny ability to perform remarkable deeds in a variety of testing circumstances.
"I'm delighted that we've got the nod to go," he said last night. "New Zealand has a good, solid team - they're all pretty strong, fit and sound - so we've got a good chance of going really well out there."
Todd's last Olympics, in Sydney in 2000, produced an individual bronze medal to go with golds at Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988).
His old teammate, now team coach, Blyth Tait last night described Todd's latest achievement as "pretty incredible. It's great for the sport, great for New Zealand".
Caroline Powell and Joe Meyer are making their Olympic debuts in Hong Kong. But all eyes will be on Todd in August, and whether he likes it or not, immediately among that special group marked down by the other competitors as one to watch.
