LEXINGTON - World and Olympic champion Blyth Tait predicts United States riders could provide the New Zealanders with their toughest competition for gold at this year's Olympics Games in Sydney.
Tait said the US riders had ridden very well at the Kentucky horse trials in Lexington, US, which are doubling as their Olympics trial.
"They were very impressive, very good. They'll be one of the favourites for Sydney that's for sure," he said.
Tait, riding Welton Envoy, is in second place after the first two phases of the three-day event, with a one-second time fault costing him the overnight lead.
Tait follows Virginia rider Kimberly Vinoski riding Over The Limit, who went clear to stay on her dressage score of 39.2, 0.2 ahead of Tait.
Two other US riders, husband and wife David O'Connor on Rattle N Hum, with 39.8 penalties, and Karen O'Connor on Prince Panache on 42.8, are within one showjumping rail of the leaders.
Dressage leader Mark Todd slipped down the field to ninth and a score of 55.6 as a struggling Just A Mission picked up 20 time penalties.
The other New Zealander, Dan Jocelyn, is 16th on Silence after a refusal at one fence cost the Wainuiomata-born rider 20 penalties, for a score of 74.6.
Tait said all three New Zealand horses were a little out of sorts during the cross country, possibly because of the travelling from England and the hot weather.
* Meanwhile the death of another eventing rider has prompted Todd to say he cannot wait for his career to end.
Todd's friend Jemima Johnson was killed while competing in a trial in England on Saturday. She is the fourth rider to die while eventing this year.
"I have known her for years," Todd wrote on his Website.
"It is just beyond belief. When I hear something like that I just can't wait for this year to come to an end."
- NZPA
