The Australian led after two rounds of dressage and was able to keep top spot thanks to a composed display as the rain continued to fall on the course in Stamford in England.

Burton, part of the Australian contingent which won an Olympic bronze medal in the team event at Rio 2016 last month, amassed 3.2 time penalties on board Nobilis 18 to end day three on a score of 33.4 points.

"I was very nervous today, I sat in the riders’ tent and watched a heap of riders and horses go and that didn’t help me at all," said Burton.

"I was lucky today, the distances were coming to me, he’s a good easy horse to ride forward to a fence.

"I had one of the rare moments where I changed my mind, I had planned to do the long route at the Trout Hatchery as I had seen so many go on four and a half strides, but I was so far down on my minute markers I changed my mind, very unlike me.”

A trio of New Zealanders follow in the standings, with Tim Price, riding Ringwood Sky Boy, in second place on 44.9 points. 

Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand, the five-time winner of the Burghley Horse Trials who was particularly effective yesterday, occupies third place on 47.2 on board Nereo despite struggling throughout his run.

Jonelle Price, a bronze medallist at London 2012, is narrowly outside of the top three as she has 50.1 penalties.

The New Zealander and horse Classic Moet endured a torrid time in the dressage, languishing down in 22nd position, but recovered in the cross country going into tomorrow’s final day.

The third day of the Burghley Horse Trials, part of the International Equestrian Federation Classics series, was dominated by a number of falls.

Just 28 of the 68 rider and horse combinations went clear.

"It was harder work for the riders than I thought it was going to be," course designer Mark Phillips said.

"All the combinations required a forward ride on the way in, which is why we have these three sitting here, because they did that better than anyone else.

"It was disappointing to have so many falls."