Sir Mark Todd praised his horse's timing for the big occasion as the New Zealand equestrian legend eyed the possibility of a double medal finish in the Olympics eventing.

Todd led a remarkable New Zealand recovery in the cross-country phase in Rio on Tuesday (NZ time).

After finishing a disappointing sixth in the opening dressage phase, the New Zealanders moved to second behind Australia in the team standings as they commanded the fences on the demanding Deodoro course.

REUTERS Mark Todd and Leonidas II leap one of the jumps on the Olympics cross-country course.

And Todd, aboard Leonidas II, leaped from 17th to fourth on the individual standings.

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It has set up a nail-biting final showjumping phase on Wednesday.

The 60-year-old Todd already has five Olympic medals from his seven previous Games appearances – three individual and two team. If he can snare another he would become New Zealand's most successful Olympian, one ahead of paddlers Ian Ferguson and Paul Macdonald.

He has Clarke Johnstone and Jonelle Price to thank for the team revival in the cross-country.

Johnstone, riding his first Olympics off a largely domestic programme, showed his comfort in this league, leaping from 23rd to seventh to continue the Kiwi surge.

Jonelle Price was the third counting New Zealand rider, moving from 43rd to 13th.

Husband Tim Price was eliminated when RIngwood Sky Boy fell on the 24th of 33 fences on the cross-country course.

The scenario leaves New Zealand just two rails behind Australia going into the deciding showjumping phase.

Australia are in the gold medal position with 150.30 penalty points, New Zealand on 154.80 with France on 161.0 and defending champions Germany fourth on 172.80.

Individually Todd would need France's Nicolas Astier to drop two rails and go clear himself to snare bronze. Australian Christopher Burton (37.6) and German champion Michael Jung (40.9) will battle for gold.

The ageless Todd was praising his horse's performance on a cross-country day that claimed some big names, none more so than Britain's William Fox-Pitt who plummeted from first to 22nd as he repeatedly struggled with the layout.

"The fences come at you thick and fast and it was fairly hard to keep up a good gallop," Todd said after incurring just two time penalties on a clear round.

"But I had to take the risk, and the horse responded and stayed really rideable. He isn't always like that, but he was really good all the way to the line.

"I'm over the moon that I've gone well and the horse was absolutely superb. It's always a nervous time before you start, you don't want to make a mistake but the horse was so good."

New Zealand needed to mix a conservative approach with a bit of adventure to make up ground, something that tested the experienced Todd.

"I was told to take one long route and briefly thought 'do I disregard the order?' But then I thought I should better behave myself," he said.

"I had instructions for the team to stay safe and clear. Fence six had me worried but it was mostly a perfect round. The horse was brilliant all the way through. "

Johnstone was thrilled to play his part and was expecting big things of his horse Balmoral Sensation in the showjumping decider where he believes New Zealand has the horses and riders to carry out a medal assignment in the team event.

"His (Balmoral Sensation's) showjumping record is fantastic – as do the other two horses on our team - and I would hope not to be ruining it tomorrow," Johnstone said before adding a warning.

"There's still a long way to go. It's called three-day eventing for a reason."

Johnstone admitted he made some last-minute adjustments over the cross-country course as he looked and learned at this level.

"I walked it six times, which I think is a record for me. But then I still changed my plan about three of the fences on the course from just watching everyone else go around."

France have the luxury of all four riders available for the showjumping phase with the top three scores counting. New Zealand and Australia each have only three riders left, adding pressure to their medal chase.

The horses must clear a veterinary inspection before the showjumping.

OLYMPICS EVENTING

(Standings after dressage and cross-country phases)

Individual

1 Christopher Burton (Aus) 37.60

2 Michael Jung (Ger) 40.90

3 Astier Nicolas (Fr) 42.00

4 Mark Todd (NZ) 46.00

5 Phillip Dutton (US) 46.80

6 Boyd Martin (US) 50.90

7= Clarke Johnstone (NZ) 51.30

7= Carlos Paro (Br) 51.30

9 Sam Griffiths (Aus) 53.10

10 Mathieu Lemoine (Fr) 53.60

Also: 13 Jonelle Price (NZ) 57.50 , eliminated Tim Price (NZ)

Team

1 Australia 150.30

2 New Zealand 154.80

3 France 161.00

4 Germany 172.80

5 Netherlands 238.60

6 Sweden 243.10

7 Great Britain 252.10

8 Ireland 278.40

9 Italy 296.00

10 Brazil 311.70

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