The New Zealand equestrian Louisa Hill has had a brilliant start at the Saddleworld Dressage Festival in Werribee, Australia, with a second placing in one of the top classes at the event.
Riding her 10-year-old gelding Bates Antonello, the Athens Olympian finished second behind Australian champ Rachael Sanna on Jaybee Alabaster in the first round of the FEI Pacific League World Cup final.
Hill's score of 69.936% was just short of Sanna's 71.128%.
They will once again battle it out in the freestyle tonight, with the two scores added together to decide the winner of the league.
The second place reinforces Hill's quest for the London Olympics as it meets the strict selection criteria set down by the Equestrian Sports New Zealand and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
She now has the required scores to make her eligible for selection for the games.
But it was a tough day for New Zealand's para-dressage riders, who had three fourth place finishes.
The New Zealand team is going head to head against Australia for the single Oceania spot for the 2012 Paralympics.
That too will be decided late on Saturday night.
