<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><strong>Mark Todd is looking for two from two as he
heads into the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, the second leg of the HSBC FEI
Classics.</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>He's just leading the pack in the high-dollar
classics – which sees the winner pocket $US150,000 – after his epic Badminton
win earlier in the week, and will once again be taking on the weather as well
as a world-class international field at the highest level of advanced three day
eventing.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>Todd and his 2010 World Equestrian Games
bronze medal-winning team mount NZB Grass Valley will complete their dressage
phase early tomorrow morning (Saturday NZ time), followed by the cross country
on Sunday and showjumping on Monday (NZ Time). The event is being held at the
Kentucky Horse Park, the same venue as the World Games.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>Also starting wearing the silver fern is Kiwi
Olympian Joe Myer aboard Snip, who had to pull out of contention for the NZ
team for the World Games after the horse was injured. Together they've
represented New Zealand at World Games, Olympics, Badminton and other top
events, but this is their first four star event in the United States.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>Todd, who was on a plane to the US within
hours of winning Badminton, says the cross country, designed by Derek di Grazia
(US) looks “fair”.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">It's changed a fair bit from last year but the other
challenge is the rain – they have had so much rain and this morning we had a
tornado warning,” he said. “I couldn't get out of the hotel and all the horses
were evacuated to the indoor school.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>The wet doesn't bother him so much and he says he's sure
his 11-year-old horse's Irish ancestry will stand him in good stead in the mud.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">He doesn't mind the wet at all – he's Irish. He's a real
workman – a good honest trier.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Todd is picking they'll be a little off the pace in the
dressage but counters that with news that the bay has improved quite a bit
since his World Games outing.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">There are some very good horses here.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>He is part of a 45-strong field, featuring riders from
five nations – most are from host country USA, with seven from Canada, six from
Great Britain and two each from New Zealand and Australia.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Todd says the reaction to his Badminton win has been
phenomenal.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">It is just amazing. Even in England it has been
incredible.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>He's not sure about being trumped as a role model for
older people in a Times <br>editorial, but muses that the years probably can't be
argued with.<br><br>- Diana Dobson<br>Media Liaison, ESNZ</span></p>
