Equestrian: Veteran Mark Todd leads Badminton

LEGENDARY New Zealand eventer Mark Todd rolled back the years at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials with a masterful performance that has put him in sight of his fourth title.

The 55-year-old double Olympic champion will become Badminton's oldest winner if he triumphs in today's showjumping finale.

He leads with NZB Land Vision after cross-country, just 0.2 penalties ahead of Marina Kohncke, who is bidding to become Germany's first Badminton champion on Calma Schelly.

Todd, though, did not know until almost an hour after he concluded the cross-country phase that he was in front when it emerged that Kohncke's cross-country time had been modified and she was given a total of two penalties following an earlier miscalculation.

The top 12 riders are separated by less than one showjumping fence, with a congested leaderboard also including British quartet Nicola Wilson (Opposition Buzz), Piggy French (Jakata), Laura Collett (Rayef) and Mary King (Imperial Cavalier).

Todd retired after the 2000 Sydney Olympics and trained racehorses before returning to the sport seven years later. "I hope the horse is okay for the vet inspection tomorrow, and I will hope to jump a clear round. Then in it will be in the lap of gods," Todd said.