Luke Dee is flying the New Zealand flag high in China, finishing second to the current European champion Roger Yves-Bost in the CSIW2* show overnight.

The 20-year-old full time rider from NZPH at Ocean Beach is on an all-expenses paid trip to Beijing for the CSIW2* show after finishing second equal in the JB Olympic Cup at the 2014 NRM Horse of the Year Show. Winner Katie McVean gave up the opportunity to represent NZ at the show due to the upcoming birth of her first child.

Aboard the borrowed horse Ziemar, Dee won the warm up class, heading home Yves-Bost and then finished second in the big class last night.

“I am thrilled with the result,” he said. “Being beaten by the current European champion isn't so bad.”

Six went through to the jump-off and Yves-Bost set the pace.

“I tried to catch him but unfortunately was not able to do so.”

The roles were reversed in the 1.3m-1.4m speed warm-up class with Dee heading home Yves-Bost.

“Bosty went about two before me and I knew he would be one of the faster ones in the class, so I made sure I watched him,” said Dee.

Yves-Bost did set the pace, but Dee says his horse is a real cracker.

In the second class of the show, Dee finished sixth after taking a rail and bagging an “unlucky” four faults.

“My horse is amazing! Apparently it won the competition last year with Ben Maher riding it, so I had enough confidence in myself and the horse to give Bosty's time a fair crack.”

And it paid off.

The show, behind held in the 284 hectare Huang Yuan Park in Beijing, is right in the centre of the city.

“They (the Chinese) have been very generous in loaning such top horses.”

He and trainer Merran Hain are doing a little sightseeing before the next competition starts on Thursday.