LITTLE Cheverell-based Australian Olympian Lucinda Fredericks is plotting an even closer relationship with her ride Flying Finish after being impressed by his showing at London 2012 last week.

Fredericks, 44, was part of the Aussie team that finished sixth at Greenwich Park and is keen to continue working with her 10-year-old gelding, who is owned by Donald Reid.

The Wiltshire rider admits that she was slightly disappointed with her own cross country round and to see her team not finish near the podium positions.

But she won’t be levelling any of the blame at the feet of Flying Finish, who she feels has only just begun his Olympic journey.

“Most of our rounds were great and I was really happy with how he performed in such a big competition,” said Fredericks.

“The cross country probably didn’t go how I would have liked but I should take all of the blame for that.

“I think that I took things a bit too slowly and that’s not his fault at all.

“My plan is to look into buying in to Flying Finish now and it’s something that got straight to working on.

“I want to keep working with him and I think that he’s probably got two more Olympics left in him.

“It’s a bit of a shame not to do better at London but I still think it was an amazing competition. The organisers had done a fantastic job.

“The course was brilliantly designed and it was great to ride in such beautiful surroundings.

“The British fans were just incredible and created an amazing atmosphere for every rider.”

There was disappointment in London for Lucinda’s husband Clayton, who was one of two Australian riders to suffer a fall during the cross country phase.

The 44-year-old dramatically dismounted his ride Bendigo at the 20th fence and was left to curse his luck.

“It was really bad luck and when we got to the fence, it was just like we had the rug pulled out from underneath us,” said the Aussie star, who won team silver alongside his wife in Beijing 2008.

“It’s gutting but it’s just bad luck and it’s one of those things that happens – what can you do?”