AUSTRALIA have taken the trans Tasman test at the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show in dominant style.

Led by Paul Athansasoff on his home-bred horse Wirragulla Nicklaus who had double clear rounds, the four-strong team finished on 22 faults – New Zealand finished with 32 faults.

Athanasoff, who opted to come to New Zealand rather than compete in the World Cup final in Las Vegas, also won the grand prix class, ahead of his countrymen Chris Chugg on Vivant and Becky Allen on Koyuna Ted.

Chugg is in New Zealand as an independent rider while Allen, along with Athansasoff, David Robertson and Paula Hamood make up the Australian team.

Best of the Kiwis was Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) on Vita Power Right Royal who finished fourth in the class after dropping a rail in the first round and picking up an unfortunate time fault in the second.

The only clear rounds for New Zealand riders went to Lisa Coupe (Kumeu) on Forest II and reigning Horse of the Year title holder Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) on Sacred Hill Answer Back.

The test was held as part of the final round of the grand prix series which was incredibly tight at the table going into the class. Claire Wilson had three points on Katie McVean (Mystery) with Maurice Beatson a point back and Simon Wilson a further 10 back.

Claire Wilson’s sixth equal placing was just enough to give her the series by just a point ahead of Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on My Golliwog.

In the Young Rider of the Year class Jamie Beatson (Cambridge) and Goldilocks were the only ones to finish with no faults after the first round.

The technical course challenged the 29 starters, with many coming unstuck at the skinny upright stile that had proved the undoing of many in the Lady Rider of the Year yesterday.

Oliver Baudinet (Auckland) and Canouk were second with just one time fault.

Twenty-year-old Beatson, now a horse breaker in Cambridge, was lucky his father Maurice had prepared his 10-year-old home-bred mare so well for the event.

Beatson has been concentrating on setting up his new business.

His win sent a message to selectors who overlooked him for the New Zealand team to contest the Australians in a trans Tasman test later this month at the Young Horse Championships.

While he hasn’t started at many events this season, he has placed well when he has. He last won the title in 2002 on My Milano.

In the 100-kilometre endurance race New Zealand ruled, with Jenny Shander first, Kylie Avery second and Lois Hosking third.

In dressage today it very much looks as if Debbie Barke (Rotorua) Mzungu will take out the advanced championship after her third win of the show – this time in the freestyle.

Kate Klingender (Masterton) riding Adler won the open medium 5.6 and Emma Malcolm (Nelson) also had another win today in the medium musical freestyle.

Pictured left - the Aussie hero, Paul Asthanasoff and his home bred stallion, Wirragulla Nicklaus take home a team win and Friday's Grand Prix class.

This super 8 year old stallion by Falkrich out of Nina was bred by Paul and business partner, Charlie Hook at their Wirragulla Stud in New South Wales, Australia.

Paul is proving that he is well able to produce top quality performance horses with Nicklaus being his second World Cup horse in less than a decade - many would be happy to have had one!

Wirragulla Hamlet now stands very successfully at stud and is siring some really lovely stock who will no doubt make their way to the top like their wonderful sire and Wirragulla Nicklaus also stands at stud.