Oliver Townend is ready to confirm his status as the new big-money star of European eventing this weekend.

The Shropshire-based Yorkshireman will pocket £92,000 if he finishes no lower than seventh in the final event of this year’s HSBC FEI Classics series.

Townend heads to the picturesque Pyrenees town of Pau with Carousel Quest, his Burghley winner last month, holding a 12-point advantage over Great Britain team-mate William Fox-Pitt.

The fierce rivals, European gold medal-winning colleagues in Fontainebleau less than four weeks ago, are poised for a thrilling head-to-head, starting with tomorrow’s dressage test.

Should 26-year-old Townend, who is now based at Duddleston Heath near Ellesmere, land the overall HSBC crown, it would take his winnings from major events past £300,000 in less than 12 months.

And further riches are available next April when he contests the Rolex Kentucky event in Lexington.

If Townend triumphs in America, he will secure £213,000 as only the second Rolex Grand Slam winner — a glittering prize awarded to any rider who wins consecutive Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky titles.

Pippa Funnell achieved the feat in 2003, but a possible Grand Slam and individual winnings from Lexington for Townend would mean him hitting a remarkable £550,000-plus jackpot.

Townend said: “It’s a very tough cross-country course at Pau – typically French, in that there are a lot of twists and tight turns.

“It is a very serious four-star event, more about accuracy and angles than actual huge fences. The terrain is very flat and similar to the Fontainebleau course in many ways.”

A superb dressage display by Townend and Carousel Quest at Burghley gave them a sizeable lead no other rider seriously threatened, and he will be looking for another strong opening discipline tomorrow.

“Carousel is in very good form,” he said.