from horsetalk.co.nz (dated 07dec10)

New Zealand's eventing elite will gather at the iconic Puhinui Reserve for the Auckland International Three-day Event this weekend, hoping to catch the selectors' eye with the London Olympics now on the horizon.

Fourteen of the country's best horse and rider combinations will contest the top class, the CCI3*, although WEG bronze team medalist Clarke Johnstone and team member Jock Paget will ride their second string horses. Their team horses are resting after the trip to Kentucky. Paget will ride Clifton Pinot, while Johnstone has Incognito in good form. The combination is currently lying fourth in the Bell Tea Super League series, which runs throughout the competition year and culminates at the National Three-day Event at Taupo next May.

But the field is full of potential internationals keen to finish in front of these young guns, in particular Emily Butcher on Southern Ben, who is returning after injury sustained while short-listed for the Beijing Olympics.

Butcher leads the Bell Tea standings jointly with fellow Cantabrian Brent Jury, the farrier from Cust, who was the surprise winner of the National One-day Event Championships at Richfields, near Te Kauwhata, a fortnight ago.

Lizzie Brown holds third and fifth place with Push Play and Henton Attorney General, both of whom she is taking to the UK next year to campaign for a place in the New Zealand team for London 2012.

The Auckland Super City is continuing to support this top class, formerly sponsored by Manukau City, with mayor Les Brown expected to attend. The event winds up the spring eventing season, and marks the halfway stage in the Bell Tea Super League, offering double points, so will be keenly contested.

The dressage phase of the event takes place on Friday, with the cross-country, the spectacular part of the event on Saturday, and showjumping on Sunday for those who pass the final veterinary inspection.