Considered one of the up-and-coming equestrian contenders, the Australians are trying to shed the perception that they are weak in the dressage event.

At a press conference yesterday, the team said it expects to finish in the top eight, perhaps even the top six, in today's dressage competition.

It's the first time the country has qualified a team for dressage since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

One of the team's riders, Kristy Oatley, was the one who said a top-six finish was doable.

She will compete with teammates Heath Ryan and Hayley Beresford.

And Ryan, the former coach turned rider, expects the team to medal in the 2012 London Games.

Ryan has previously said that Australia wasn't considered a serious medal contender in the dressage event. But now, he said, it would be foolish to underestimate his country, considering its success in the eventing competition.

"Australia is an emerging dressage nation," he said. "We have a successful horse-breeding program. We don't have a big population of riders. But the riders have more horses to choose from than any other riders in the world."

He went on to say the best riders are atop the best horses.

The dressage discipline features team and individual competitions. The team competition comprises the Grand Prix test. The best 25 riders after the Grand Prix test will enter the Grand Prix special, after which 15 best riders will be selected to the final Grand Prix freestyle test.

Speaking at another press conference yesterday, Denmark's dressage team also expressed confidence.

"I must say, they have very good team spirit," Danish team manager Kimi Nielsen said of the riders. "They enjoy being together and doing lots of fun things. We're one big family. I think this is very nice."

Team rider Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein said she was proud to been able to bring her horse from home, Digby.

And teammate Anne Van Olst said her horse, Clearwater, is fit enough that she can increase the workload placed on him.

(HK Edition 08/13/2008 page1)