by Diana Dobson

Mark Todd make it look easy when he and NZB Gandalf were the winners by a rail in the eventing challenge at the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show in Hastings yesterday.

Todd was lying second after the dressage, with John Twomey on Flaunt It in the front. The beautiful dapple grey Gandalf rattled a rail on his way around the course but finished well inside the time allowed with nothing on the ground.

Todd is very pleased with how he and Gandalf are starting to work together but quick to point out it is too early to say whether the horse has the "wow factor".

Todd himself certainly has that wow factor. His very presence at the Horse of the Year Show has a somewhat surreal feeling about it. When he enters a ring a hush descends on the crowd as people crane their necks and jostle for position to get the best view. "The reaction to my coming back to compete is quite amazing," says Todd. "It is fantastic that everyone is getting so much enjoyment but it is still very early days yet."

And there is plenty of expectation out there. Eventing New Zealand's team manager and high performance director Blyth Tait is pleased with Todd's progress.

"If you could write a script you could say it is going to plan," he said with a chuckle.

Next stop for Todd is Puhinui Three Day Event where he will continue to chase qualifying scores.

Eventing invitational: Mark Todd (Canterbury) NZB Gandalf 1, Mark Twomey (Cambridge) Flaunt It 2, Donna Smith (Waikato/USA) Stannage 3.

Pony of the Year: Mathew Dickey (New Plymouth) Co Calico 1, Charlotte Myers (Hawera) Miss Coruba 2, Mathew Dickey (New Plymouth) Miss Coruba 3, Greta Porter (Hawke's Bay) Chobidong, Luke Dee (Cambridge) Wild Thing, Alexandra Randall (Auckland) Millbrook =4.