British-based New Zealand event rider Tim Price is a regular fixture at the world’s biggest and brightest 5* courses but is determined to conquer the Defender Burghley Horse Trials astride a young gelding.

The 2018 champion is hoping to guide Viscount Viktor, the greenest of his two entrants at the event, through a successful dressage phase after a turbulent outing at his first 5* run in Pau last year.

The pair picked up 60 cross country jumping penalties but the world number one seems to have resolved any teething problems after producing a steady 29.5 in today’s dressage.

“I was really happy with him today. There were the obvious mistakes, little bits and pieces that are just related to his age and stage but I think the quality demonstrates he could be quite exciting for the future," said Price, who is based in Dorset

“He was relaxed and stayed with me this time, he’s been a couple of times before at this level and he’s not been the most rideable in the ring but he just felt really nice today and I think it’s almost like the start point of the future."

The 45-year-old has been world number one and competed at the Olympics but conceded completing the prestigious yet punishing Burghley cross-country course was a challenge even he couldn’t manage to top.

“The cross country course is big and challenging, it’s what really challenges us on a personal level as a rider, we want to do things like this, but then you walk it and you think, 'Do I really want it to be that tough?'

“I think it’s one of the toughest Burghley’s I’ve seen in a while. It’s very strong at the beginning. I think we’ve seen Burghley’s where the course is big and keeps asking questions all the way around before.

“This year I think it’s a different task because it’s quite front heavy. In a nutshell I definitely think it’s one of the toughest we’ve had. But it’s good, it’s solid.”  

Price has set himself a high-bar when it comes to producing top quality performances at Burghley, having made history during last year’s dressage event when he scored the first ever sub-20 test score.

He will complete the dressage for a second time with Vitali in tow, hoping to move one step closer to replicating his 2018 victory, but isn’t letting external expectation or personal ambition get the better of him.

“Vitali is feeling really good. He’s feeling serious but we’re taking one step at a time. We’ll do a good dressage test and then go from there.”

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk