Andrew Nicholson is sitting handily in third place after the dressage overnight at the top-ranking Luhmuhlen CCI4* in Germany.
World number one Nicholson, who has three mounts in the event, is in third on the big grey Mr Cruise Control (owned by Nicola and Robin Salmon and Nicholson) on 38 penalty points after a very polished test, just behind leader Ingrid Klimke (GER) on Tabasco TSF who are on 34 in the 50-strong field.
The next Kiwi on the leaderboard is Badminton winner Jonathan Paget and Bullet Proof (owned by Joseph and Alexander Giannamore) who are on 47.7 and in 12th.
Nicholson and Rathmoyle King (owned by Gillian Morris-Adams, Carolyn Taylor and Carolyne Ryan-Bell) is in 14th with 48 and he’s also in 20th spot aboard Qwanza with 49.7.
His London Olympic team-mate Jonelle Richards notched 51.5 to sit in 25th.
Tonight’s Captain Mark Phillips designed cross country will ensure the leaderboard gets a good shake up no doubt.
The New Zealanders have been in dominating form at the world’s best four-star events, and hopes are high that will continue this weekend.
Nicholson and Paget are chasing points for the HSBC FEI Classics Series, with just two events left on the card and a whopping $US150,000 prize for the winner. Nicholson is in front, with a comfortable 13-point lead over Paget.
Luhmuhlen has attracted entries from all over the world, including Australian, Belgium, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United States.
Results (after the dressage phase) -
Ingrid Klimke (GER) Tabasco TSF 34 penalty points 1, Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) Flying Finish 36.7 2, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Mr Cruise Control (owned by Nicola and Robin Salmon and Nicholson) 38 3, Zara Phillips (GBR) High Kingdom 39.7 4, Peter Thomsen (GER) Horseware’s Cayenne 40.2 5, Jonathan Paget (NZL) Bullet Proof (owned by Joseph and Alexander Giannamore) 47.7 12, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Rathmoyle King (owned by Gillian Morris-Adams, Carolyn Taylor and Carolyne Ryan-Bell) 48 14, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Qwanza (owned by Rosemary and Mark Barlow) 49.7 20, Jonelle Richards (NZL) Flintstar (owned by Darnelle Hubbard, Tim Price and Mrs Grey) 51.5 25.
HSBC FEI Classics standings: Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 40, Jonathan Paget (NZL) 27, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 26, Michael Jung (GER) 22, Craig Barrett (AUS) 15.
