Anna Trent and Cortaflex Levitation NZPH won the second round of the World Cup (NZ series) at the Showjumping Waikato World Cup Show at Kihikihi's Waipa Equestrian Park yesterday.
The 24-year-old from Hawke's Bay beat Simon Wilson and Swinger with both putting up double clears but with Trent's 61.03 in the jumpoff topping Wilson's 67.12.
These two are no strangers to top of the pole competition - last year Trent snatched series victory from Wilson on a count-back.
Yesterday, eight of the original 12 starters came through to the second round, all but Trent and Wilson carrying four or eight faults.
In the second round Katie McVean and her rising star Dunstan Delphi, who won the opening round in Hawke's Bay last month, notched the fastest clean time of the day and set the pace, but carried four faults from their first round.
Trent was quick to say the honours could have gone to any of the field.
"It was a good even competition between us all," she said.
Trent's other horse Muskateer has stayed in the United States after representing New Zealand in the World Cup final earlier this year, so she was happy 11-year-old Levitation had stepped upl.
Earlier this year Levitation had a windpipe operation and is now competing unhindered by his breathing problems.
His condition has meant he's still a bit like a seven-year-old to ride, spooking at little things here and there.
"I was a bit nervous - Levi had been a little naughty over the first couple of days at the show, but this afternoon he really stepped up to the challenge of a big course."
Gerrit Beker designed a World Cup course with plenty for combinations to consider.
"There were a lot of lines there and he had plenty of options for us with a nice big treble to finish right in front of the crowd."
It was Levitation's third world cup round win.
With two world cup rounds now complete, the points table is a compact run, with a tissue covering the top three - McVean is on 22 points, Wilson on 21 and Trent on 20.
The New Zealand series will be run over nine rounds, with the final two in Gisborne in late January 2010. The series winner has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final in Geneva, Switzerland, in April.
In the pony grand prix Luke Dee and Condoleezza continued their scorching form taking the win with a 3.82 second buffer over the second placed Alexa Randall on Millbrook.
The hard luck story of the class goes to Hannah Burnett-Grant and Maximus, who were flying around the jump-off when their saddle slipped, dashing their chances of a top finish.
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