Olympic gold medallist and equestrian stalwart Stuart Tinney last night announced his number one horse Panamera was sidelined and out of contention for the London 2012 Olympic Games due to injury.

In a statement issued by Stuart and his wife Karen last night:

“It is with huge sadness that Panamera, our elite listed mare, will be no longer be available for team selection for the London Olympics.

“Panamera sustained a mild injury to her suspensory ligament whilst competing at Equestriade CIC***. With a short rest she will make a full recovery.

“Stuart, Karen, part owner Tim Game and all the Team here at Tinney Eventing are absolutely devastated. Being so close to the Games it could not have come at a worse time.

“We will now concentrate on Panamera's full recovery and Melbourne International 3DE were Stuart will compete Pluto Mio and Orchard Hill.”

Stuart and Panamera were the winners of the Australian International 4* event in Adelaide last November. The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games saw Stuart catapult his career after winning the team gold medal in Eventing.

Equestrian Australia’s National Performance Director for Eventing, Prue Barrett, said the loss of this elite combination would be a disappointing for the shadow team.

“Stuart and Panamera have recorded some great results over the last few years and I know the significant work Stuart has put in to preparing Panamera for the London Olympics.

“This is a difficult time for Stuart and his team and it is certainly a disappointing for our shadow squad to lose such as strong combination,” said Barrett.

Stuart will now look to head to Melbourne International 3DE in two weeks’ time with his A-squad horses. The Melbourne 3DE is the last Australian event for the eventers to impress the selectors.

“We have a lot of depth in our Eventing team both in Australia and abroad. As always, selection for the London 2012 Australian Eventing team will be tough and I’m confident we’ll have a team that will carry on the proud tradition of the teams before us and produce some great results,” said Barrett.

The Eventing team for the London Olympics Games will be announced at the end June.

Equestrian Australia