Zara puts faith in Toytown after Olympic call-up
Zara Phillips was named in the GB team for this summer's Olympics – then immediately backed old friend Toytown to lead her to eventing gold.
Zara Phillips was named in the GB team for this summer's Olympics – then immediately backed old friend Toytown to lead her to eventing gold.
The RBS ambassador heads a team of five riders for the Beijing Games, where she will be aiming to add Olympic gold to her world title.
Lucy Wiegersma earned her place after finishing second at Badminton, while
William Fox-Pitt, Mary King and Sharon Hunt complete the team.
However, Zara paid tribute to the coolest member of the squad – long-time mount Toytown, whom she partnered at the world championships in 2006.
"I'm lucky in that Toytown has been to championship events before, so he knows about big occasions and has been consistent," said Zara. "An Olympic Games really is special, and I'm delighted for Toytown – he really deserves it."
Zara will be looking to emulate her father, Mark Phillips, who won a gold medal in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Her mother, Princess Anne, won the European title in 1971 and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. "It is nice to be selected, but we still have a long way to go," added Zara.
Fox-Pitt won a silver medal in the team eventing at the 2004 Athens Games. "Equestrian was able to deliver Team GB a medal of each colour in Athens and the experience in this team and their recent results bode well for success in Beijing," said British Olympic Association chief executive Simon Clegg.