MARLBOROUGH-BASED New Zealand international Andrew Nicholson claimed his fourth four-star title in just 10 months as he clinched victory at the Luhmuhlen Horse Trials in Germany at the weekend.

Nicholson, already with CCI**** successes at Kentucky, Burghley and Pau to his name, secured the HSBC FEI Classics prize with his latest victory on Mr Cruise Control giving him an unassailable lead over Britain's William Fox-Pitt.

Third after the dressage stage, Nicholson took the lead after cross-country and then secured the prize with a clear showjumping round, finishing just 1.7 penalty points in front of Britain's Zara Phillips and High Kingdom.

Nicholson, who narrowly missed out on the Badminton title this year, said: “When Zara jumped clear I knew I had to do my job and luckily the horse did his bit too.

Nicholson also took Rathmoyle King to sixth spot while Mildenhall-based New Zealander Jonelle Richards and Flintstar finished eighth.

Little Cheverrll-based Australian rider Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish were 10th.

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