HIGHWORTH-based Paul Tapner continues to be impressed by Indian Mill after a ninth place finish at Barbury International Horse Trials at the weekend.

The 10-year-old gelding was one of only eight horses to achieve the optimum time of six minutes 52 seconds on the final day cross-country round to lift the pair into the top 10, on 49.2.

Tapner, who was impressed with Indian Mill’s 14th place finish at Badminton earlier this year, said that the horse felt a lot more comfortable this time out.

“Badminton was good with Indian Mill. He went a little green there so the scoreboard maybe looked a little better than the actual feel of it was,” he said.

“This is his first serious track since Badminton and he just felt like it was a walk in the park.

“He was just so at ease, so easily around the course in all the combinations.

“On the scoreboard he keeps going clear and under time at some of the most difficult tracks around the world and he just keeps proving himself as a very capable cross country horse.”

The duo were fortunate to have a large downpour prior to them going out on the cross-country course, which helped the going.

“The ground felt great,” he added. “We had an hour or so of rain before he ran, which did help and he is full thoroughbred so the time is always ok.

“He is one of very few horses who has made time at Gatcombe Open Championship course and now he is one of very few who has made time here as well.

“That was actually easy for him, and he felt fantastic with it.”

Indian Mill, who was recently put on the Australian 2016 Rio squad, will now get his his first taste of international action when they travel to Germany, for the Nations Cup next month.

“He has got his first official Australian team representation, so we are very excited about that,” said Tapner. “Then he will probably go and do the Open Championships at Gatcombe, because having proven he can go clear and under time there and be competitive, it would be nice to be competitive again.

“Then he is eventually aimed at Pau (in October) four star, it gives him plenty of time to get up to full fitness. Having said that, the way he whizzed around here, I don’t think that should be an issue.”