HIGHWORTH-based eventer Paul Tapner hopes he has done enough to secure his pace in Australia’s Olympic team for the first time after his success at Tattersalls International Horse Trials.

Tapner and his steed Prince Mayo claimed victory in the CCI3* event after finishing with a dressage score of 44.8.

With the Australian team set to be selected on Monday, June 27, Tapner, who has only been a reserve selection before, is optimistic that he has done enough to make his maiden appearance at the Olympic Games in August.

“I was really happy with the result,” he told the Adver.

“It was exactly what we needed to do to hopefully secure our place on the Rio team.

“It is nice to feel like it was mission accomplished.

“I went there to get a podium position, knowing that the horse was capable of winning, and he did so I couldn’t ask for any more.

“It would be a career’s worth of work to get that place in the Australian team for Rio.

“I have been reserve for the Australian Olympic team numerous times so it would be nice to not be reserve and actually get the ticket.”

Tapner was in third place after his dressage round, with fellow Australian Samantha Birch leading ahead of Irishman Padraig McCarthy.

However, Birch fell in the cross country stage and McCarthy’s horse, Mr Chunky, missed the vet inspection on the final day to leave Tapner in the lead going into the final show jumping stage.

“The horse didn’t do an absolutely perfect dressage test so I was a little disappointed after dressage that there were two errors in the test which probably cost me the lead, but not desperately unhappy given I was only one point off the lead,” added Tapner.

“In cross country, I moved up another place.

“I didn’t want Sammy (Birch), my fellow countryman, to be falling off – I just wanted him to have a few time penalties.

“Then, unfortunately for Padraig McCarthy, he was not able to trot up on the last day so I all of a sudden found myself in the lead.

“The horse was absolutely perfect during the cross country round, he didn’t put a foot wrong.

“Then in the show jumping arena, I would have to say he was even more perfect.

“He jumped the best round I have ever had from him.

“I did still feel under pressure because I knew I had to win there and I knew I had to finish on the dressage score to prove to the selectors that I am worthy of a team spot, so hopefully they agree with me and that might be my ticket.”