Equestrian: Price delighted with second at Burghley

Tim Price.
Tim Price.
New Zealander Tim Price finished second behind world No 1 Michael Jung at the Burghley Horse Trials in the United Kingdom yesterday.

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 German 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 in Kentucky in April, albeit with a different horse.

Jonelle Price and Classic Moet were unlucky to take the first of the treble and slip from third to fifth place.

Mark Todd and Leonidas II left everything in place to move up to sixth. Jock Paget and Shady Grey had a rail to finish in 16th.

Australian Christopher Burton finished on a high, taking third and fourth places with TS Jamaimo and Haruzac.

''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,'' Tim Price 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.''

Todd was rapt with the efforts of Leonidas.

''He seems to be getting better and better, so I'm delighted,'' he said.

And Paget too was pleased with Shady Grey.

''I was really happy and he tried his best for me,'' he said.

Fifty-three horses passed the final horse inspection yesterday after the dressage and cross-country disciplines.

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