Australia were dominant winners of the Transtasman test at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings yesterday.
Led by Paul Athanasoff on his home-bred horse Wirragulla Nicklaus, who had double clear rounds, the four-strong team finished on 22 faults against New Zealand's 32 faults.
Athanasoff, who optedto come to New Zealand rather than compete in the World Cup final in Las Vegas, also won the grand prix class, ahead of compatriots Chris Chugg on Vivant and Becky Allen on Koyuna Ted.
Chugg is in New Zealand as an independent rider while Allen, along with Athanasoff, David Robertson and Paula Hamood make up the Australian team.
Best of the New Zealanders was Simon Wilson of Waipukurau on Vita Power Right Royal, who finished fourth in the class after dropping a rail in the first round and picking up a time fault in the second.
The only clear rounds for New Zealand riders went to Lisa Coupe of Kumeu on Forest II and reigning Horse of the Year title holder Claire Wilson of Waipukurau on Sacred Hill Answer Back.
The test was held as part of the final round of the grand prix series.
Claire Wilson's sixth-equal placing was enough to give her the series by one point ahead of Dannevirke's Maurice Beatson on My Golliwog.
In the Young Rider of the Year class Jamie Beatson of Cambridge and Goldilocks were the only combination to finish with no faults after the first round. Oliver Baudinet of Auckland and Canouk were second with one time fault.
Twenty-year-old Beatson, a horse breaker in Cambridge, was lucky his father Maurice had prepared his 10-year-old home-bred mare so well.
His win sent a message to selectors who overlooked him for the New Zealand team to contest a transtasman test this month at the Young Horse Championships.
In the 100km endurance race, New Zealand riders dominated, with Jenny Shander first, Kylie Avery second and Lois Hosking third.
In dressage it looks as if Debbie Barke (Rotorua) on Mzungu will win the advanced championship after her third win of the show - this time in the freestyle.
Kate Klingender (Masterton), riding Adler, won the open medium 5.6 and Emma Malcolm (Nelson) also had another win yesterday in the medium musical freestyle.
