Eventing: Hawke's Bay's Amanda Pottinger spearheads Kiwi assault

Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding have been in hot form in countdown to Adelaide. Photo / File

Eight New Zealand eventing combinations are in Adelaide to compete in the Southern Hemisphere's highest ranking event, the Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 until Sunday.

Leading the charge is Havelock North's Amanda Pottinger and her 13-year-old bay gelding Just Kidding who last year were second in the CCI5*-L event as well as this year winning the CCI4*-S at the Horse of the Year Show and finished second at the National Three Day in Taupo. They also recently won the CCN3*-S at Arran Station Spring Horse Trials in Hawke's Bay.

"The aim this year (at Adelaide) is to improve in all three phases and if we do that and end up with a ribbon, that's a bonus," Pottinger said.

"With Ferg (Just Kidding) now having another year of experience under his belt pushing for those more competitive scores, he should go back a more mature and seasoned horse ... here's hoping anyway."

Bundy Philpott of Cambridge and 13-year-old bay gelding Tresca NZPH are also looking for improvement. They were most impressive in the cross-country last year until an unfortunate hiccup towards the end.

"I am really grateful to have the opportunity to take him back and have another go at a 5* on such a generous horse. I want to ride a few rider mistakes from last year," Philpott said.

Aucklander Diane Gilder and her 15-year-old Australian thoroughbred Your Attorney have been to Adelaide before for lower level classes but this is their first shot at the big one. They head to the event in good form having recently won the CCN4*-S at Arran Station Spring Horse Trials in Hawke's Bay.

"All went to plan at Arran Station so we are on track," Gilder said.

"I rode in Adelaide in 2010 with a horse called Foreal and in 2011 with Your Attorney both in the 3*. I have always wanted to go back to ride the 5* track and always thought Your Attorney would be a horse to do it with."

However, while things haven't lined up for the combination in the past it seems 2019 is their year.

"He finished last season doing very well and competitive, and has started off this season the same. I am looking forward to it," Gilder added.

Australia-based Kiwi Hayley Frielick and Class Action LP round out the New Zealand contingent in the 21-strong CCI5*-L field which includes former Olympians and other top combinations.

"I am really looking forward to coming back and having another crack with Class Action LP this year. We've also got two of the young ones in the CCI3*-L so will be busy enough but I can't wait to be galloping through the streets of Adelaide," Frielick said.

New Zealand three day champ Madison Crowe of Matangi is the only Kiwi in the 17-strong CCI4*-S aboard Waitangi Pinterest. Frielick aboard Dunedin the Brave and Dunedin Black Watch, and Amalia Rowley aboard Mexico II are all on the 47-strong CCI3*-L card.

South Island's Helen Christie is on the ground jury and Susan Geddes an assistant steward across all three classes.

Great Britain's Mike Etherington-Smith is the course designer for the CCI5*-L cross country with Sylvia Williams-Roberts doing the CCI4*-S and Aussie Michael Pineo the CCI3*-L.

Aussie John Vallance is the showjumping course designer across all three classes.

Adelaide plays host to the Southern Hemisphere's only CCI5*-L, which is one of just six held across the globe, putting it alongside the Kentucky Three Day in the United States), Badminton and Burghley in Great Britain, Luhmuhlen in Germany and Pau in France.

The event is unique as it is staged in the heart of Adelaide city. It was introduced in 1997 to replace the Gawler Horse Trials but it wasn't until 2002 that it gained its current ranking, and this year has more than $150,000 in its prize pool.