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Zara Phillips' Olympic dream in tatters AGAIN as injured horse forces her to pull out of Beijing
Last updated at 00:23am on 12.06.08
Zara Phillips has been forced to pull out of the Olympics after her horse was injured in training.
The 27-year-old royal, who is the world champion three-day eventer, was tipped to win gold at the Beijing Games this summer.
But since she and the gelding Toytown were jointly selected for Great Britain's eventing team, his injury means she must also withdraw.
Zara Phillips jumps Toytown in Rome in 2007. The pair have pulled out of the 2008 Olympics just weeks before the Games began
The almost telepathic relationship between an Olympic rider and horse means switching to another mount is impossible.
Last night, Miss Phillips said: 'I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go.
'However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team. I wish them every success.'
More time together: England rugby international Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips, pictured at the Cheltenham Festival
Four years ago, Miss Phillips – who is 11th in line to the throne – missed the Athens Olympics as Toytown was injured.
She may well have a chance to represent Great Britain at the London Olympics in 2012. B
ut that hope is likely to be of little consolation at present. On Monday, she had voiced her fears that the pair would not make it to the event, which will be staged in Hong Kong.
'The next two months will be very nerve-racking because the horses can do stupid things and ruin their chance of going out there. The horses have got to compete before they go out there.
'You can't wrap them up and put them in a box and leave them. Now I'm in the team, the important thing is to get on the plane.'
But during training with Toytown on Tuesday, in Gloucestershire, a check-up revealed the injury.
Within hours, he was declared unfit for the Games. Details of the injury have not been revealed, but it is hoped he will recover.
Miss Phillips was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year two years ago.
Her parents, the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, both represented Great Britain at the Olympics.
Zara gives Toytown a kiss before the competition in Rome last year
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Reader views (3)
What a charming view you have William Jenkins. You have absolutely no grounds for these statements and you just sound bitter and jealous. Pathetic!
- Fq, London, UK
I would guess, from his comments, that William Jenkins knows little about horses.
While it is possible to spend a vast amount of money buying a high quality mount with loads of experience, unless you can also ride to a very high standard the probability of eventing success is incredibly low.
Miss Phillips and her parents, in Toytown, spotted a horse with nothing more than potential and then developed that potential into a world-class partnership that is based at least as much on the abilities of the rider as on the ability of the horse.
- Paul Galpin, Newbury, Berks
Seeing as she has been given the world's best horses to ensure she wins a gold medal, I am sure she will get a new one!
After all, she has ensured her competition will never ride any horses of similar pedigree.
A hollow victory in my opinion.
- Wiliam Jenkins, London
