Equestrian: The word's bad on Todd's top horse

LONDON - Mark Todd's Olympics hopes have suffered a major setback with the loss through injury of his horse Word for Word.

The horse pulled up at training, ruling him out of Badminton next month and the Olympics in September.

Last year Todd was second on Word for Word at Badminton, third at Burghley and he won the British Open title on him at Gatcombe Park. He had wanted him to be in peak shape for Sydney.

"He is out for the rest of the year after injuring himself at training.

"I was working him on the gallops when he strained a tendon," double Olympic equestrian champion Todd said from his Cotswolds home.

"It is very disappointing, but I still have three other very good horses to choose from. It was going to be a difficult decision and now it's one less choice to make.

"Of all my horses at the moment, Word for Word has been the most successful and I have done the most on him.

"I am looking forward to this [last] season. Losing Word for Word has put a downer on it, but the others are going okay and I'm quite happy with them."

The horse will be right next year but this is Todd's 21st and final season in England before returning to Auckland after the Olympics to retire.

Todd flies out to Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday for the biggest three-day event in the US. He will ride Just a Mission in the second leg of a bid to win a $US1 million ($2.03 million) grand slam.

Fellow New Zealanders Blyth Tait and Dan Jocelyn have also entered.

Todd won the coveted Burghley title last year and needs to win at Lexington and Badminton to pick up the biggest cheque of his exceptional career.

"The chances of winning it are about a million to one but I'm going to enter anyway," he said.

He returns to England the following Wednesday, less than 48 hours before he steps out at Badminton, on Eye Spy.

Heavy and endless spring rain is not worrying Todd, who said Eye Spy had drawn early but did not mind the wet.

Eye Spy won a two-star event at Blarney Castle two years ago and has been well placed in three-day events in Europe. Todd rode him to an advanced-class victory last weekend.

One of Todd's better horses in recent seasons, Diamond Hall Red, who won at Burghley last year, is not entering any three-day events this year in preparation for Sydney. Diamond Hall Red is very capable at cross-country but weak in dressage.

Todd has been recognised as the greatest three-day event rider of the 20th century and was on many international lists as the only equestrian rider in the top 100 sports people of the past 100 years.

- NZPA