Equestrianism: Promising Aspyring

BLYTH TAIT made a fine start to the Toyota Three-Day Event yesterday, when he rode Aspyring to achieve the best dressage score of the day. That is Tait's first three-day event with the classy nine-year-old thoroughbred, whom he acquired during a trip home to New Zealand at Christmas, writes Genevieve Murphy from Bramham Park.

Aspyring had never performed the official international test in competition before. But he has lovely paces and he used them effectively, despite the strong wind which distracted many of his rivals.

Tait came here with the intention of qualifying Aspyring for this year's World Equestrian Games in The Hague, where he will be defending his world title. Delta, the runner- up at Badminton in May, remains his likely mount for The Hague, but Aspyring could prove a useful back-up.

'He's an unknown quantity at the moment, I'll know more about him after the cross-country,' Tait said, referring to tomorrow's test over Mike Tucker's course of 27 fences.

Tait held a six-point lead at the end of the first day of dressage. Jean-Marc Favereau, from France, is lying second on Rancho with two Britons - Pippa Funnell on Heron's Flight and Angela Tucker on New Flavour - equal third.

Funnell is looking for a change of fortune after retiring at Badminton and falling at Punchestown last month.