Equestrian: Tait hopes better things to come

World and Olympic champion Blyth Tait reckons the luck couldn't get any worse for the New Zealand eventers at the Sydney Games.

He said the medal hopes of the three-day eventers were now focused on the individual contest, starting tomorrow, after their devastating run at the team's contest.

In the bronze medal position overnight, the team's hopes of securing a medal fell apart today when two of their horses pulled up lame after yesterday's team cross country test, leaving the New Zealanders a result short of posting a team score.

In the end, Mark Todd was the only rider to complete the three phases, riding Diamond Hall Red clear in today's showjumping.

After Ready Teddy and Enzed were ruled out of the competition lame, Vaughn Jefferis did not bother to jump Bounce.

For Tait, the loss of Ready Teddy to a sore hoof was a particular blow.

He had already lost his probable team start last month when his 15-year-old sentimental favourite Chesterfield dropped dead in quarantine last month.

Tait then gave up the chance of riding Ready Teddy in the individual competition, and defending their 1996 Olympics title, to try and help New Zealand secure their first ever team gold medal.

Tait's long-time groom Fiona Fraser, who was riding Chesterfield when he died, was in tears today as she led Ready Teddy away from the veterinary check the horse had failed.

"Obviously its very disappointing, not just for me," Tait said later.

"We're a team and we've worked hard together to try and get a team result.

"(It's) also very disappointing because it was something that wasn't major. He seems to have a bit of bruising in the toe of a back foot and we presented because in our opinion we thought he would have been capable of showjumping, certainly on the sand.

"But you can't appeal against the decision."

Tait said Ready Teddy was a very sound tough horse, and he never expected him to have a problem.

"I must have been doing something wrong because I haven't been having a very good run the past couple of months.

"You start to get numb to it after a while."

Tait said the horse was fine last night, but this morning they were not so confident.

"But of course you can't do a lot in an hour, you can't perform miracles."

Tait said Enzed was a bit stiff today, and had a problem with one hoof or ankle, so it was decided not to risk him. However there was no concern there was a permanent injury.

New Zealand's three entries in the individual competition are Tait with Welton Envoy, Todd with Eyespy II and Andrew Nicholson with Dawdle.

Todd said Eyespy was going very well, and, like Tait, he was hopeful of better luck in that contest.

Team veterinarian Wallie Niederer confirmed today Nicholson's top horse New York was injured, and had not been considered for the individual competition.

Australia and Britain were set for a tense battle this afternoon to decide the gold and silver medals in the team's event.

The hosts, seeking their third consecutive gold medal, have just three rails in hand over the British.

The United States moved into the bronze medal position after the New Zealanders were eliminated.

The loss of the New Zealand team was greeted with dismay by many at the equestrian venue Horsley Park.

One official said it was "like having the Bledisloe Cup without the Kiwis."

- NZPA