GERMANY'S Bettina Hoy, who has been based in Ogbourne Maizey in recent weeks, delivered a dominant dressage display to take early charge of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire.
The 53-year-old, who was a member of Germany's bronze medal-winning eventing team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, coaxed a score of 34.5 penalties out of her Burghley debutant Designer 10.
That gave her a clear lead over Australian Bill Levett and Improvise, who posted 42.5 for second place overnight, while Paul Sims and Glengarnock are currently the leading British combination in third spot.
Hoy, who finished fifth with Designer 10 at last year's Badminton Horse Trials, said: "The horse is now very established at this level.
"He really tries to concentrate and he did pretty much everything that I asked him to do."
Mildenhall-based New Zealand Olympian Jonelle Price and Classic Moet were also inside the top 10 on day one, with husband Tim and Bango, Highworth-based Australian Paul Tapner and Up In The Air further down the field.
Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson and compatriot Sir Mark Todd, who is based at Badgerstown near Swindon, were among those competing on day two today.
Burghley, which carries a top prize of £63,000 has not had a British winner since former world number one William Fox-Pitt triumphed five years ago.
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