Equestrian: Todd believes horse's best is yet to come

New Zealand equestrian great Mark Todd has issued a blunt warning to his competitors ahead of next year's London Olympics - he expects his inexperienced horse NZB Land Vision to be the best in world by then.

The indefatigable Todd and NZB Land Vision combined for a history-making win at the Badminton Horse Trials in the United Kingdom today (NZT), a result Todd rates as highly as his back-to-back Olympic Games triumphs with Charisma in 1984 and 1988.

The 55-year-old, now a four-time winner at the four-star event, was effusive in his praise of his horse, one he believes could peak just in time for a tilt at a third Olympic gold medal in London next year.

"He's a really thrilling horse," Todd said after reaffirming his own standing as a great of the equestrian world.

"He came here relatively inexperienced (NZB Land Vision had competed in just two three-star events) but he's such a wonderful horse, he's very good in the dressage, he's bold in the cross-country and he's a very good jumper.

"He's learning all the time and what's really exciting is that I have got nowhere near the best out of him yet. Hopefully in another 12 months or so this horse will have proved he's the best horse in the world."

Todd rode himself into the history books when he notched his first win since 1998 at the prestigious three-day event, which he won first the first time in 1980 aboard Southern Comfort.

At 55, he has become the oldest winner of Badminton. Only Lucinda Green, with six titles, had tasted success at Badminton on more occasions.

Paired with the striking grey NZB Land Vision, who was in his first four-star event, Todd was a picture of calm as he completed the showjumping phase.

Just a single rail separated the top 12 combinations going into the showjumping, so there was no room for error.

"We gave that first fence a little nudge and that woke both of us up," he said.

"It is incredibly special, right up there with the back-to-back Olympic golds. When I came back to the sport (in 2008) it was to see if I could get back to top level.

"My aim was to win a big one, and probably in particular Badminton, because it's a bit like a tennis player winning Wimbledon.

"To actually achieve it is quite remarkable."

Todd retired after the Sydney Olympics in 2000 but was back with vengeance eight years later and last year was part of the New Zealand that won bronze at the World Equestrian Games.

Now he's looking to the London Olympics.

"In the end it came down to horse-power, and I've obviously got a good one here. Charisma will always be the most special horse, but this one has no weak links."

New Zealand eventing high performance coach Erik Duvander said the win was incredible for both Todd and New Zealand sport.

"To do what he did before he retired and then come back and win again is just amazing. He rode the whole competition with a lot of confidence in his horse, who is still just a young horse and one I think we will see excel even more in time to come," he said.

Caroline Powell and her grey Lenamore finished in sixth spot after also going clear and inside time in the showjumping, finishing just 3.6 points behind Todd, with Andrew Nicholson 10th on Avebury and 12th on Nereo after uncharacteristically taking a couple rails.

But the day belonged to Todd, who will be on a plane to Kentucky overnight to compete at the four-star event on his world bronze medal ride NZB Grass Valley.

Results: Mark Todd (New Zealand) NZB Land Vision 43.6 penalty points 1, Piggy French (Great Britain) Jakata 45.2 2, Mary King (Great Britain) Imperial Cavalier 45.8 3, Sam Griffiths (Australia) Happy Times 46.3 4, Niklas Lindback (Sweden) Mister Pooh 46.7 5, Caroline Powell (NZL) Lenamore 47.2 6.