The entries for the prestigious 4 Star at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials from 1st-4th September includes several Aussies and Kiwis.
For Australia the following riders are competing; Sam Griffiths on Danaan Prince and Happy Times, Christopher Burton on Holstein Park Leilani and Newsprint, Lucinda Fredericks on Prada, Hamish Cargill on Sandhills Tiger and Brook Staples on Tova There are obviously some notable names missing from the big event but as the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials are held the following weekend, incorporating the London 2012 team Eventing qualifier for Africa, Middle East, South East Asia and Oceania (FEI Olympic Groups F and G), some of the Aussie big guns may be holding back for that. The New Zealanders however will be out in force at Burghley. There are 17 entries from the New Zealanders, including Mark Todd on Major Milestone; Andrew Nicholson on Armada, Nereo and Avebury; Caroline Powell on last year's winner, Lenamore and Mrs Tilly; Blyth Tait on Santos II; Clarke Johnstone on Incognito III and Kolora Stud Secrets; Dan Jocelyn on Special Advocate ..... just to mention a few! Many of the Kiwis are of course now based long term in the UK in the lead up to London 2012 and as they, along with Canada, Belgium, Germany and USA, are already qualified for London they are certainly out to make an impact. Host country Great Britain of course pre-qualifies for the London Games and most of their top guns will be at Burghley including Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Oliver Townend, Piggy French, Pippa Funnell and the recently married Zara Phillips (yes, still named Phillips)
