New Zealand eventing Olympic bronze medallist Andrew Nicholson is in line for a rich return if he enjoys a good week at the Burghley International Horse Trials.
Nicholson, a member of the third-placed New Zealand team at the London Olympics, will ride two horses at Burghley, starting with the dressage on Thursday.
The 51-year-old sits second in the International Equestrian Federation's Classic Series standings, just six points behind veteran British rider William Fox-Pitt.
The series - the grand slam of eventing - has the biggest prize pool on offer in the sport of eventing, with $NZ187,000 to the winner. Prizemoney is paid out through to fifth place.
A win at Burghley would give Nicholson 15 points, with 12 points for second and 10 for third.
"It's a big week all right; this is one event we need to win, and there is big money at stake," said Nicholson, who was still to decide which horses to ride.
Avebury will be one mount but conditions will determine whether he rides Calico Joe or Mr Cruise Control.
"Cruise needs a dry ground, but he is much more experienced than Calico."
Nicholson, who tops the world rankings from Fox-pitt, has twice won Burghley - in 1995 and 2000 - and will line up alongside his Olympic teammates at the four-star event.
Five-time Burghley champion Mark Todd is on Major Milestone while Caroline Powell, who won Burghley in 2010, will ride Boston Two Tip and Jonathan Paget will compete on Clifton Lush, who was fifth last year.
NZN