BRITISH eventer Nicola Wilson took a giant stride towards World Equestrian Games selection by winning the Barbury International Horse Trials in Wiltshire.

The Yorkshire-based rider, a European team gold medalist in Fontainebleau last year, shaded an exciting tussle that saw the top three finishers separated by less than one penalty point.

The British selectors are set to announce their squad for Kentucky later this week, and Wilson has given herself an outstanding chance of making the final six.

Great Britain team manager Yogi Breisner looked on as 33-year-old Wilson powered around Captain Mark Phillips' cross-country course with Opposition Buzz to land the £4,000 top prize.

They collected six time penalties, but victory was confirmed when New Zealander Andrew Nicholson - last to go aboard Avebury - had a run-out at the troublesome Earthline Quarry challenge.

The fence, which included a steep slope down to a narrow triple brush obstacle, also ended William Fox-Pitt's hopes with Seacookie.

Wilson ended on a score of 51 penalties, edging exciting 21-year-old Sussex prospect Emily Llewellyn (Society Spice) into second on 51.7, while Nicholson (Armada) was third and Daisy Berkeley (Spring Along) fourth.

Fox-Pitt, meanwhile, gained a degree of consolation with his 2010 Kentucky four-star winner Cool Mountain taking fifth spot.

Fox-Pitt and his fellow Olympians Mary King and Tina Cook are expected to gain World Equestrian Games places when Britain go for team and individual gold in Kentucky during early October.

Oliver Townend, Badminton and Burghley champion last year, is also tipped to be on board, but selection is far from clear-cut.

"Who knows? We will just have to wait and see," said a delighted Wilson, of her chances.

"A place for Kentucky would be lovely, but I am just thrilled with how the horse went.

"He did his best dressage score by far here (45 penalties), and he just tried so hard. He's always been a fantastic horse to ride."

While WEG might come a shade early for Llewellyn, she confirmed rich potential as a rider with serious London 2012 ambitions.

"2012 is a huge aim for me," said Llewellyn, who has won numerous European age-group medals and has gained selection for the European Young Riders' Championship later this month.

"It would be absolutely amazing to go to the WEG, but I am still a young rider this year and I am looking at London 2012.

"I always find it a bit wild when you have to ride (the cross-country) that quickly, but it was thrilling. I went for it."

Llewellyn also finished 10th with her other horse Pardon Me II, and she added: "I couldn't wish for two better horses."

King and Piggy French, both strong candidates for Kentucky, experienced frustrating fortunes ahead of the final day's three-star action.

King, in second place overnight with the highly-rated Imperial Cavalier, withdrew ahead of the showjumping phase after her horse suffered a bruised foot.

And French, European individual silver medalist in France last year, pulled out on Jakata following a dressage performance that left them equal-fourth.

Jakata lost a shoe during the dressage test and was eliminated from contention at the subsequent horse inspection.

Cumbria-based Ruth Edge, the leader after showjumping on Two Thyme, withdrew ahead of cross-country to rest her horse prior to an assault on the Burghley four-star crown in early September.

But Edge had already collected a £1,000 reward by guiding Applejack II to victory in Barbury's supporting two-star event.

Overnight leader Andrew Hoy did not complete the cross-country phase, and Edge seized her chance, edging Chris King (Miss Caruso) into second spot and Australian Bill Levett (One Two Many) third.

REACTION & PICTURES SPECIAL FROM BARBURY IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD