A winery seemed a fitting venue for Blyth Tait to announce his ambitions for the Tokyo Olympic next year.
"Well I'm certainly getting older so I'm going to go with that theory, improving with age," the 57 year old joked.
After recently moving from overseas to Karaka, his entry into the Hawke’s Bay’s Horse of the Year event was the launching pad to try achieve that goal.
"I will need some very solid strong performances to consider travelling again so we will see how that unwinds but it's definitely a goal because the Olympics are what everyone wants to compete at."
Tait's one of only four Kiwis to win four medals at the Olympic games.
After coming out of retirement in 2011 he missed out on London 2012 and was a reserve for Rio 2016.
"I just feel now that I’m reconsolidated after a lengthy time off. I only have one horse of that calibre so it will depend on her performance and her soundness, her fitness in another 18 months times."
The first hurdle will be the four-star event in Hastings against New Zealand team mates and the current Queen and King of the equine world Jonelle and Tim Price.
"They are definitely a force to be reckoned with. They are very, very competitive so really looking forward to the challenge."
Event Director Dave Mee says it makes the field the most competitive in the showpiece's history.
"We know it's 14 years since Tim and Jonelle have competed in New Zealand so it's really exciting that they've reached the pinnacle overseas and we are going to see them back here."
It's worth noting at 62, the great Mark Todd is not ruling out 2020 as well.
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