WILLIAM Fox-Pitt's quest for a first major individual title to crown his stellar eventing career ended in agonising frustration at Stade D'Ornano yesterday.

The Sturminster Newton-based world number one led heading into the showjumping finale at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but an early fence down meant he dropped to third behind German pair Sandra Auffarth and Michael Jung.

While Fox-Pitt had to settle for bronze aboard Chilli Morning - emulating the combination's achievement at last year's European Championships - Great Britain took team silver behind Germany.

The quartet of Fox-Pitt, Phillips, Tina Cook and Harry Meade, who was reduced to a spectating role after his horse Wild Lone collapsed and died following Saturday's cross-country phase at Haras du Pin, finished almost 22 penalties behind the all-conquering Germans.

The Netherlands proved a surprise package as they claimed third, with the other three team qualification places for Rio 2016 filled by France, Australia and Ireland.

Fox-Pitt had hoped to emulate previous British world champions Zara Phillips, Lucinda Green and Mary Gordon-Watson.

The 45-year-old Dorset rider's career is laced with success, having won more than 50 international three-day events and collected over a dozen major championship medals, yet it ultimately proved another day of domination by Olympic and European team title holders Germany.

Auffarth, 27, jumped clear aboard Opgun Louvo to finish on a score of 52.0, while Jung and Fischerrocana FST also went clear, ending just 0.3 penalties behind his team-mate, and Fox-Pitt posted 54.3.

Phillips had earlier given Britain a flying start as they looked to pin down a team medal, going clear with High Kingdom for 11th place individually. Cook (De Novo News) finished 16th after having two fences down, and individual British challenger Nicola Wilson ended 25th on Annie Clover.

"I am very pleased with Chilli Morning," said Fox-Pitt.

"It was frustrating having a fence down, but he has had a fantastic competition. He has a superb temperament and he is a real worker and a real tryer.

"Perhaps he was a little bit heavy-legged and a little bit less reactive than he normally is, and he just flicked that pole.

"The atmosphere in Caen has been crazy - very akin to the London Olympics - and the horses were lifted by that. It is brilliant for the sport.

"We (team) were outsiders coming here, so it was very nice to pull it off.

"It was devastating news about Wild Lone, which has dampened spirits, but hopefully today will go some way towards giving Harry and his connections a bit of a lift."