Kiwi equestrian Jonelle Price and her horse Classic Moet hold the lead after the cross country round at the Badminton Horse Trials in England.
Price started the day in 22nd, and a near flawless round propelled her past Britain's Oliver Townend heading into tonight's showjumping phase.
Both are tied on points, but Price holds top spot because she was closer to the optimum cross-country time, collecting just 0.4-time penalties, compared with Townend's 7.2
"She is some horse at cross country," Price said of Classic Moet. "Her speed is quite phenomenal. There really is no other like her and to show that time and time again is really special.
"We certainly dug ourselves out of that hole and to get that close to the time after having to take the long option was really remarkable.
We were 16 seconds down at one stage. I owe it all to her. She is some mare and comes into her own on a day like that."
She is looking to become the first female winner of the event since Australian Lucinda Fredericks in 2007.
Four-time champion Sir Mark Todd is the next best Kiwi, with two horses in the top 10. Kiltubrid Rhapsody lies sixth and Leonidas II, 10th.
Defending champion Andrew Nicholson is 12th on Nereo and Jonelle's husbands, Tim Price is 14th
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