Shannon was second overnight following dressage competition at the second leg of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Classics season, but has now taken pole position at Victoria Park after the second best cross-country run of the day.

Riding Clifford, she finished with just 0.4 penalties to move onto a total of 52.52.

She leapfrogged dressage winner and compatriot Will Enzinger who slips to second on Wenlock Aquifer after a still credible 3.2 cross-country time penalties.

He now has a tally of 55.03 before tomorrow's concluding show jumping action, with another Australian, Andrew Cooper, third on 59.70.

Cooper won today's cross-country competition, producing the only clear round on Evergem Perfection to jump into the top three from seventh place at the four-star rated competition.

"I could not have asked any more of him," said Shannon. 

"By the time I got to the end of the course, he did not feel like he had just completed a four-star. 

"He felt as if he could have gone again. 

"Whatever you point Clifford at he will do his best to get over it."

Cooper described warmblood Evergem Perfection's performance as "amazing".

"He had two run outs in the four-star last year, which was down to greenness, but he has had a full year of three-star competition and that experience showed," he said. 

"He never looks fast, but he is so adjustable and I took a few inside lines. 

"He can just land and go. 

"He was purchased as a showjumping horse, so I can only hope he remembers that tomorrow."