The Briton and her horse, who achieved gold in the team eventing contest at Tokyo 2020, completed the day with a score of 21 points.

Her best test performances came in the extended trot, canter and halt, which all scored a 10.

"This is what you dream of," Collett said.

"He is just so nice to ride.

"I’ve been varying his routine with a lot of hacking and polework.

"It’s about keeping him 'with' me."

Collett’s tally means Tokyo 2020 team-mate Tom McEwen, who led after day one, has moved into second with his horse Toledo de Kerser.

The two-time Olympic medallist is now 2.4 penalties behind Collett.

The rest of the top end of the standings remains largely unchanged, with Britain's Kitty King and Mollie Summerland in third and fourth and the United States’ Tamra Smith in fifth.

British duo Oliver Townend and Piggy March are still level in sixth.

Debutant Gireg Le Coz is the leading rider for France, in 14th.

Moving into day three of the competition, just eight penalties separate the top 18 riders.

The cross-country test is set to dominate tomorrow’s proceedings, with thousands of people anticipated to attend the third of the competition.