Zara Phillips has withdrawn from the Olympic Eventing team after her horse Toytown was injured during training.
The British Olympic Association is now scrambling to find a replacement for the talented granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth to take part in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, starting in August.
“I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go," Ms Phillips said.
Zara Phillips jumps Toytown in Rome in 2007. The pair have pulled out of the 2008 Olympics just weeks before they began
"However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team, I wish them every success.”
It was not immediately clear what sort of injury the horse has sustained. Toytown and Zara were also forced to withdraw from the Olympic eventing in Athens in 2004 after the horse suffered an injury.
Zara would have faced off against her father Mark Phillips, who is coach of the American equestrian team, had she competed.
Captain Mark Phillips won British team gold in Munich in 1972 and 16 years later collected silver in the same event in Seoul.
As coach of the United States, he had faced the tantalising possibility of one of his charges and his daughter jumping off for gold.
"Obviously he'll support me," Zara said recently, mulling over the scenario. "But his job is the Americans. I know I won't talk to him.
Zara gives Toytown a kiss before the competition in Rome last year
"I think we can do an awesome job," she said in an interview just days ago, looking ahead to Beijing or rather Hong Kong, the equestrian venue. "Our aim is to go one better than last time."
Britain won an eventing team silver in Athens four years ago.
In a comment full of foreboding, she also said recently: "The next two months will be very nerve-wracking because the horses can do stupid things and ruin their chance of going out there."
Zara won the individual gold on Toytown in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games last year in Aachen, Germany, and became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after that win.
A reserve rider and horse combination will now be selected by the British Olympic Association, after nomination from the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), to replace Zara Phillips and will be announced as soon as possible.
Simon Clegg, Team GB 2008 Chef de Mission said:
“This must be a huge disappointment to Zara particularly following the pair’s success over the last few years. Naturally we now need to focus our full support on the rest of the team including Zara’s replacement and give them every opportunity of competing to their full in Hong Kong.”
Will Connell, Team Leader for the Equestrian Team commented:
“The British team are saddened by the news, especially for Zara and her team. We have a strong team of reserves and the team are now focused on trying to win medals.”
Toytown is owned by BGC Partners & Associated Companies including Cantor Index, Mr James Blacks.
'Disappointed' Zara Phillips quits the Olympic team after her horse is injured | Mail Online