SHOWING just why he is ranked number two in the world, Kiwi ace Tim Price smoothly racked up yet another long format victory in the feature class.

Teaming up with Sue Benson’s Falco, a German-bred gelding that he describes as ‘the complete modern event horse,’ Price led the dressage on a score of 28.0 and was never headed.

This was despite the addition of 14.8 penalties clocked up in the country, and while the time was there to be beaten, not one of the 17 runners returned home within the 10-minute limit. “I’m more than pleased with him,” said Price of the son of Cardenio. “The soft ground was a new experience for him, and he coped extremely well. He’s had a few misdemeanours in his time, but he’s learning and feels very genuine now.”

A 12-year-old, Falco is one of three horses listed as a possible Olympic mount for the New Zealander, and selector Judy Bradwell – who was present at Millstreet – will have been pleased with this performance. “All three are a slightly different kettle of fish and have different strengths,” added Price. “So, it will depend on the type that the selectors favour.”

Chasing all the way, and indeed another in the frame for a Tokyo call-up was the second-placed Harry Meade. The British rider, who has been on flying form since recovering from a serious head injury incurred last autumn, launched a three-pronged attack headed by the French-bred Tenereze.

The former stallion, who under Thomas Carlile was crowned young horse world Champion at Le Lion d’Angers in both 2013 and 2014, completed just three marks in arrears of the winner. Meade is a man with a strict production plan for his horses, and explained how he opted to travel to Millstreet on the back of the cancellation of the British fixture at Bramham.

“Bramham has always been an important stepping stone and a dress rehearsal for my horses moving towards a five-star,” he said. “When that was cancelled, I knew the best replica would be Millstreet, and indeed the fact the going was soft was no bad thing for their education.”

Having clocked up the fastest time in the country, fellow British Olympic candidate and world gold medallist Tom McEwen slotted into third with the Irish-bred CHF Cooliser. Bred by Raymond Carroll, and sourced through Goresbridge by producer Robert Stronge, the Womanizer-sired mare set out across the country with intent. Beautifully ridden by the stylish McEwen, she pulled up from an opening 13th spot, and despite lowering the first part of the final combination in the show jumping, edged ahead of the slower Harry Meade and Red Kite.

While the six Irish runners met with mixed fortunes, it was a red-letter day for fifth-placed Lucy Latta. Riding her own DHI Broadway, Latta was foot-perfect throughout, and adding just time penalties to her opening score, moved up from an initial 10th spot. The pair caught the eye in all three phases, and especially in the show jumping where, giving air over every fence, the chesnut jumped probably the most impressive of the five clear rounds.

“It’s always great to come into the final day riding him!” said Latta afterwards. “It was a hard trip to get in the country, but he was with me every step of the way.” Boekelo could be the next milestone for the Dutch-bred 15-year-old, who has carried Latta through the junior and the young rider ranks.

Next up, Ali Holden and Oh My Balladeer wowed the ground jury with a fourth-placed dressage test on Friday, but slipped to an eventual 11th, just one place in front of Sian Coleman with Poynstown Star. The latter, who is only a nine-year-old, showed a bit of greenness in the country, but will have learnt plenty from this educational run. Although he didn’t present on the final day, Michael Ryan was clear with TR Kaygraaf, while Esib Power and Azure were unfortunately eliminated in the dressage.

Notable among the three who failed to complete Saturday’s endurance test, was Tom McEwen aboard Figaro van het Broekxhof. In third spot overnight, the pair parted company when the gelding glanced off at the skinny brush exiting the first water (5b), while in an opening sixth place Ludwig Svennerstal walked home from the far end of the track with Camelot.

Meanwhile, New Zealander Hollie Swain’s Solo was one of several horses to take a major dislike to the farm yard animals surrounding the Hay Wagon (4) and went no further.