Equestrianism: Dutton leads but Britain start brightly

Phillip Dutton, a double Olympic gold medallist from Australia, held the lead when the first sun-drenched day of three-day event dressage was completed at the World Equestrian Games yesterday. Having been disgruntled at being named as an individual rider rather than a team member with House Doctor, the 39-year-old was naturally pleased to prove a point to the selectors.

Dutton holds a slender 0.6pt advantage over two members of the United States team: the Olympic champion, David O'Connor, on Giltedge and John Williams on Carrick. Thanks to these two excellent tests, the US riders now hold a substantial lead in the team placings, with Australia and Britain in second and third. Britain nevertheless had a satisfactory start when both Leslie Law on Shear H20 and Jeanette Brakewell on Over to You recorded their best-ever scores at championship level.

Law's attractive grey mount can get "inwardly tight and nervous", but on this occasion he was beautifully relaxed, enabling him to display his good natural paces effectively. Brakewell, who is three points behind Law, had given Over to You an unorthodox warm-up by galloping him twice round the practice area "to open him up", which clearly had the desired effect. The two Britons can now turn their attention to Mike Tucker's cross-country course in between watching their team-mates, Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt, attempt to improve the team score when they ride their dressage tests today.

According to O'Connor, who elected to go first for the American team, the cross-country is "tougher than expected." Riders are particularly concerned about the direct route at the first water complex (fences 11 and 12), which involves going down a bank that resembles the one used in the Hickstead Derby but with a fence on its outer edge.

Leslie Law expects to take the longer alternative at this obstacle. "I like to know my riding plan and I'm uncomfortable with the fast route, because there's a bit of chance to it. Going the long way at the first water could also mean that the horse is happier when he comes to the second one," Law said.

Richard Davison achieved the best British mark in "pure dressage", but his 66.08 per cent on Ballaseyr Royale was not enough to give the team a place in the top seven – which was needed to achieve the desired Olympic qualification – after Wednesday's disappointing results from Peter Storr and Emile Faurie.

WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain): Results after first day of three-day event dressage: 1 House Doctor (P Dutton, Aus) 33.60 penalties; 2= Giltedge (D O'Connor, US) and Carrick (J Williams, US) 34.20; 4 Nufarm Alibi (K Lambie, NZ) 34.40; 5 Ava (S Tinney, Aus) 38.00; 6 Stand by Me (L Algotson, Swe) 39.40; 7 Crocus Jacob (J-L Force, Fr) 41.00; 8 Mobilcom Chicoletto (H Blocker, Ger) 42.20; 9 Shear H20 (L Law, GB) 42.40; 10 The Back Breaker (M Schwarzenbach, Swit) 44.20. GB: 11 Over to You (J Brakewell) 45.20; 24 Eye Spy II (P Stockton) 54.40. Teams: 1 United States 68.40 penalties; 2 Australia 84.80; 3 Great Britain 87.60; 4 Germany 92.00; 5 Sweden 96.20; 6 New Zealand 103.20. Dressage Grand Prix: 1 Farbenfroh (N Capellmann, Ger) 77.96 per cent; 2 Rusty (U Salzgeber, Ger) 75.64; 3 Brentina (D McDonald, US) 74.64. GB: 28 Ballaseyr Royale (R Davison) 66.08. Teams: 1 Germany 5,642pts; 2 United States 5,527; 3 Spain 5,403. GB: 10 4,876.