Equestrian: Dropped rail costly for Price

One dropped rail cost New Zealand rider Jonelle Price a bronze medal at the World Equestrian Games eventing today.

Not that Price, riding Classic Moet, knew that at the time they jumped.

Lying equal fourth with fellow New Zealander Andrew Nicholson going into the showjumping, both needed clear rounds and for at least one of the three combinations above them to have problems.

Nicholson and Nereo fell out of the frame with three rails down to finish ninth, and Price put one down to give the top three some breathing space.

Germans Sandra Auffarth and Michael Jung made no mistakes on Opgun Loevo and Fischerracaona, but overnight leader, Britain's William Fox-Pitt and his mount Chilli Morning clipped one rail and fell to third.

The German 1-2 finish also gave them the teams gold medal.

It was just the second four star event for the black mare Classic Moet and Price was chuffed.

"But when you get that close to the medals you can't help but think of what could have been," she said.

However the knowledge that the horse has plenty of improving to do buoyed her.

"I came here hoping for a respectable performance....and never dreamed she would finish fourth. This is the highlight of my career."

The world's leading riders will reassemble in a few days for the Burghley four star event, won last year by New Zealand's Jock Paget, only for his horse, Clifton Promise, to fail a doping test, for which he was later cleared of involvement.