Queenslander Chris Burton says it would be a dream to buy Shadow Man, the horse that transported him to an Olympic silver medal - but the future is uncertain for the surprise duo who took the Chateau de Versailles by storm.
Indeed, it's likely the 14-year-old "machine" of a horse could be attempting to win a medal for Britain rather than Australia the next time he competes in an international three-day event.
Burton has only had Shadow Man on a six-month loan from his British owner, rider Ben Hobday in a rare demonstration of Anglo-Aussie sporting harmony, but he's due to hand him back now the eventing is over.
The 42-year-old Burton evidently fears the whirlwind fling is over. Asked if there was any chance of him finding a backer to help him buy the horse heâs sought to purchase twice before, he joshed: âHave you got a sponsor? Excellent! Come on. Let's talk business!
âThere's my agent over there, Webby. I think he's on 15 per centâŠâ
Then he confessed: "Yeah, of course. Who wouldn't dream of it? He's a lovely, lovely animal.
âIt would be my dream. He's just the most delightful animal, I really felt we were made for each other.Â
âBut I feel anyone that's sat on him would have the same experience, I'm afraid he'd break your heart ... but what a story and what a great time we had in Paris.â
Burton only competed on Shadow Man for the first time in March and it was pretty much love at first ride.
âIsn't he a machine? Isn't he a delight? He just springs off the ground and he's got scope and he's got care and he's a pleasure,â cooed Burton.
But Hobday, he explained, didnât want to part with Shadow Man when he had previously tried to buy him - and the Aussie didn't blame him.
The six-month loan arrangement to let UK-based Burton try to qualify for the Olympics for Australia was thrashed out in January because Hobday wanted the horse to fulfil its potential but felt he wouldn't make the powerful GB squad that eventually won team gold on Monday.
"I hope it brings Chris all the success in the world," Hobday had explained in an interview with Horse & Hound in March.
"He can come back home then and we can continue on our journey and partnership, and next year for me could be some big things for Team GB if things go to plan.â
Burton may be resigned to the end of a brief but beautiful friendship with Shadow Man, but he has a family adventure of his own planned with wife Bek.
His equestrian business is based in the southern British county of Dorset but, asked about the future, the Queenslander said: "We're going home to Australia. We're going to go build a house and put up a white picket fence and live the dream."
And asked how he would celebrate, he looked at fellow medallists, champion Michael Jung and bronze winner Laura Collett, and mused: "The Germans have Jagermeisters, in Australia we have a beer ... and the British have a cup of tea!"
