from: Yahoo Sport (dated 13 June 2010)

New Zealand showjumpers have shown they can foot it with the best, finishing fourth and fifth in a five-star grand prix event at Spruce Meadows in Canada.

Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) and California-based New Zealander Guy Thomas were two of only five combinations from the 37 starters to make it through to the jump-off at one of the world's most prestigious shows.

It was McVean's Dunstan Delphi's first ever five-star start. Over a 1.6m technical and challenging course, the combination were unlucky to take the second to last fence in the jump-off of the star class on the fifth and final day.

Taking the honours was Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (Canada) aboard Hickstead, who had the luxury of being last to go in the jump-off. They left everything up and stopped the clock at 53.782 seconds. Second was Federico Fernandez (Mexico) on Zorro who was clear in 55.491sec with John Pearce (Canada) on Chianto third in 52.272sec with four faults.

McVean had four faults in 54.433sec with Thomas and Corino, who were first out in the jump-off, bagging eight faults in 52.907sec.

Both McVean and Thomas are vying for spots in the New Zealand team at the world equestrian championships in Kentucky this year.

"I can't believe Delphi," Kaie McVean said. "She's an amazing horse. When we came here we weren't going to go straight into the 1.6m class but she was going so well and we had every bit of faith that she could do it."

Twenty-three year old McVean said she thought Delphi loved being in the limelight.

"She's just getting better and better - it's incredibly exciting. Everyone is amazed by her because no-one really knows her and yet she's out here jumping the big class, and doing it well."

New Zealand's showjumping high performance leader Richard Sunderland was just as ecstatic.

"This is absolutely fantastic for New Zealand," he said. "It backs up what I have said all along -- that we have these athletes out there who are most definitely able to do the job."

To have both McVean and Thomas hot on the heels of Lamaze was heart-stopping stuff and would give both riders huge confidence boosts.

"It's just a matter of experience and mileage now," Sunderland. "Both are riding just so well at the moment. These results will give everyone a new-found confidence."

McVean's father, former Olympian Jeff McVean, has long believed in Delphi, who he bred out of his top mare Flower Power. The family has been hounded by top offshore combinations keen to have the chance to buy the mare, but she is now firmly in New Zealand ownership.

However, her results at Spruce Meadows haven't gone unnoticed, and once again, Jeff McVean is fending off calls from prospective buyers.

"There is just so much interest," he said. "So much talk too... she's just unbelievable."

Thomas' other horse, Peterbilt -- the one he had tipped to take to the world equestrian games in Kentucky in September -- is by the same horse as Delphi, Leo Caylon.