Tim Price top-billed for the Kiwis this morning at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials placing second aboard Falco, with Tayla Mason and Centennial sixth and Jonelle Price on Chilli’s Midnight Star 12th. The UK 5* event is known as the toughest, biggest and most prestigious event in the world . . . and comes with the richest prize purse too. It’s a popular event for riders and spectators alike, with the Eric Winter-designed cross country attracting thousands to the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton Estate.

It was Falco’s first-ever Badminton but he has previously won Pau 5* and was Tim’s horse for the Paris Olympic Games where they were New Zealand’s best with their sixth place finish. At Badminton, they were 10th after the dressage, added four time in the cross country and nothing this morning in the showjumping for a final tally of 33.9 penalty points. They were one of two combinations to come home clear and inside time in the final test. “He is a fantastic little horse,” said the world no.2. “He is all about head and heart and just loves to know where his feet are . . . that’s where is brain is! If he is enjoying himself and the confidence is there, he gives everything.”

The horse had dealt with it all so beautifully. “It is the first time I have been here and can relax a little,” said Tim, referencing his sometimes stressful showjumping rounds on other horses. “It has been a really nice prospect.”

Tim rode with a broken shoulder, an injury he picked up three weeks ago after falling off an electric bike. He rode the Kentucky 5* with the injury but says he was better prepared at Badminton with a “useful” support suit and strapping. He was grateful it was Falco he had on the start list. “He is my old friend and a fantastic horse. I have been with him 10 years . . . if it had been another horse, it would probably not have been such a doable proposition.”

It will be a Badminton to remember for Tayla Mason and her homebred Centennial who placed sixth, and for the second consecutive year picked up the Glentrool Trophy as the combination to have made the greatest improvement on their dressage placing. Their clear and inside time effort on the cross country – one of just three – saw them scoot up the leaderboard from =40th to sixth. This morning they added just 1.6 time penalties to finish the event on 38.1 penalty points.

Tayla earlier credited her trainer and mentor Sir Mark Todd with taking her riding to a new level. She was ecstatic coming out of the showjumping, happy to tell the world just how “cool” her horse was. “It is just amazing,” said Tayla. “This year my preparations and training were solid and that has paid off.”

Jonelle Price and Chilli’s Midnight Star also steadily tracked their way up the leaderboard, from =27th in the dressage, adding 10.8 time in the cross country for another gain, and then 0.8 time this morning to finish in 12th place on 45.1.

Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte added four faults this morning for a final score of 69.6 and 30th place. Caroline Powell retired her 2024 Badminton winner Greenacres Special Cavalier during the cross country where she was also eliminated aboard High Time.

But the day belonged to the history-making Ros Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo who many are calling the greatest event horse of all time. Their win this morning marked the first-ever horse and rider combination to win Badminton three times, adding to their already very impressive trophy cabinet.

🐴 Tim Price and Falco – 33.9 penalty points 2nd
🐴 Tayla Mason and Centennial – 38.1 penalty points 6th
🐴 Jonelle Price and Chilli’s Midnight Star – 45.1 penalty points 12th
🐴 Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte – 69.6 penalty points 30th

🐴 Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier – RET cross country
🐴 Caroline Powell and High Time – ELIM cross country

CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULTS 

THE HORSE DETAILS

Horse

Breeding

Owners

Centennial

Euro Sport Centavos x Made you Look (Sire. Moonwalker)

Sue Rutter and Sonya, Kyle and Tayla Mason

Chilli’s Midnight Star

Chilli Morning x Midnight Wispa who (Sire. Laban)

Nikki Axon and Merrill Halstead

Cooley Lafitte

Je T’aime Flamenco x Graf Shenanigans (Sire. Scirocco Delle)

Jay Jaffar

High Time

Hemmingway x Freckleton Maxima’s Mandolin

Ruth Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West and Caroline Powell

Falco

Cardenio 2 x Witta (Sire.Weinberg)

Sue Benson and Tim Price

Greenacres Special Cavalier

Cavalier Royale x Greenacres Touch (Sire. Touchdown)

Michelle and Chris Mann and Caroline Powell

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ
11th May 2026