Tim Price second at Burghley in nail-biter

Tim Price. Photo / Getty

Tim Price has finished second behind world number one Michael Jung at Burghley Horse Trials in the United Kingdom this morning.

In a nail-biting finish, Price and Ringwood Sky Boy went clear in the all-important showjumping phase, finishing on 41.5 penalty points, but Germany's Jung, the reigning Olympic and European champion, and La Biosthetique Sam FW were also faultless, taking the win on 40.

It was all a little deja vu for Price, who was second to Jung at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* in April, albeit with a different horse.

Jonelle Price and Classic Moet were unlucky to take the first of the treble to slip from third to fifth place, with Sir Mark Todd and Leonidas II leaving everything in place to move up to sixth. Jock Paget and Shady Grey had a rail to finish in 16th.

Australi n Christopher Burton finished on a high, taking third and fourth places with his horses TS Jamaimo and Haruzac.

But it was a good day all round for Tim Price, as well as the 46,000 pounds sterling as runners-up, his horse won the Worshipful Company of Farriers' Best Shod Horse Award, and he also picked up a $US5000 bonus in the SSG Go Low for the Dough Contingency Bonus Prize Awards.

"He has been a horse who has been coming along all the time but never been able to produce it in the ring at this level, so obviously I am delighted with him," he said.

"It is such a great achievement. We almost got the little fella from Germany . . . next time.

"The horse has excelled in all three phases. I have always said he has a couple of good days in him at this level. He is not going to be one of these out and out champion horses because of the type he is . . . but I do believe in him in all three phases."

Jonelle Price was philosophical about her fifth place finish.

"It was a good round. She jumped really well," she said of Classic Moet. "Maybe I was a little bit close to the first of the treble . . . but overall, three great phases. Fifth place - I can't complain."

Results -
Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (final): Michael Jung (GER) La Biosthetique Sam FW 40 1, Time Price (NZL) Ringwood Sky Boy 41.5 2, Christopher Burton (AUS) TS Jamaimo 45 3, Christopher Burton (AUS) Haruzac 47.6 4, Jonelle Price (NZL) Classic Moet 48.9 5, Sir Mark Todd
(NZL) Leonidas II 50.5 6, Jock Paget (NZL) Shady Grey 69.9 16.