A mere second may cost master horseman Mark Todd in his quest for a third Olympic gold medal.
The 56-year-old Todd, competing at his seventh Games, had the chance to take the lead into the final showjumping phase but finished one second outside the time limit in the cross country at Greenwich Park on Monday.
It meant the 1984 and 1988 Olympic champion picked up 0.40 time faults to put him on 39.50 points overall and remain in third before Tuesday's jumping event.
Todd, riding Campino, mastered the tricky course which claimed 15 victims who failed to complete the course, including overnight leader Yoshiaki Oiwa, but despite urging his mount on in the final stages finished agonisingly outside the 10 minutes 03.00 seconds margin.
Second-placed Italy's Stefano Brecciaroli slipped down the field after picking up 10.60 time penalties.
Germany's Ingrid Klimke and Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt lead the field on 39.10 points after blemish-free rounds.
It was an improved showing from the other Kiwis with Andrew Nicholson going clear to remain on 45.00 points and move up the individual rankings from 21st to ninth.
He is the second-best of the New Zealand riders after leap-frogging Jock Paget when he picked up 4.8 time penalties with Paget now 14th on 48.90.
Their three scores combined moved New Zealand into fourth place in the team event on 133.40 points.
Germany lead on 124.70 ahead of Britain (130.20) and Sweden (131.40).
The other members of the team also impressed on the tight cross country course with Caroline Powell and Lenamore picking up just 1.6 time faults and Jonelle Richards also went clear and just incurred 6 time penalties. Powell is equal 24th and Richards 31st.
Ranking after Cross Country:
1. Ingrid Klimke (BUTTS ABRAXXAS), Germany, (4, 39.30; 1, 0.00), 39.30.
1. Sara Algotsson Ostholt (WEGA), Sweden, (5, 39.30; 2, 0.00), 39.30.
3. Mark Todd (CAMPINO), New Zealand, (3, 39.10; 3, 0.40), 39.50.
4. Michael Jung (SAM), Germany, (11, 40.60; 4, 0.00), 40.60.
5. Kristina Cook (MINERS FROLIC), Britain, (14, 42.00; 5, 0.00), 42.00.
6. Mary King (IMPERIAL CAVALIER), Britain, (12, 40.90; 6, 1.20), 42.10.
7. Ludvig Svennerstal (SHAMWARI), Sweden, (16, 43.70; 7, 0.40), 44.10.
8. Sandra Auffarth (OPGUN LOUVO), Germany, (8, 40.00; 8, 4.80), 44.80.
9. Andrew Nicholson (NEREO), New Zealand, (21, 45.00; 9, 0.00), 45.00.
10. Christopher Burton (HP LEILANI), Australia, (24, 46.10; 10, 0.00), 46.10.
10. Zara Phillips (HIGH KINGDOM), Britain, (25, 46.10; 11, 0.00), 46.10.
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