One may have to abandon one's strongly entrenched superstition to compete in the Olympic Games.

One may have to abandon one's strongly entrenched superstition to compete in the Olympic Games.

Zara Phillips was among five riders named yesterday in Great Britain's equestrian team for the Beijing Olympics, following in the hoofprints of her mother and father, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.

Her father won gold and silver in the three-day team event in 1972 and 1988, while her mother, European champion in 1971, competed in the 1976 Olympics.

The 26-year-old Ms Phillips, 12th in line to the throne, is chosen with William Fox-Pitt and Mary King, both of whom won team silver four years ago in Athens, plus Sharon Hunt and Lucy Wiegersma.

They may have views on their royal team-mate's professed superstition. "I have to wear the same socks when I go cross-country," says Zara. She does not say whether they get washed.

Eventing is a hotbed of superstition. Scotland's most prolific Olympic medallist, three-day eventer Ian Stark, won four silvers in five Games while saluting magpies, touching wood and throwing salt over his shoulder.

Selection with her mount Toytown is belated for the Queen's grand-daughter.

She should have gone to Athens four years ago but Toytown was injured.

However, the following year she steered him to individual and team gold at the European Championships, and when she won individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2006, she became only the third rider to hold world and European titles at the same time.

"It is nice to be selected, but we still have a long way to go," she said. "I am lucky in that Toytown has been to championship events before, so he knows about big occasions and has been consistent, but an Olympic Games really is special."

The eventing is being staged in Hong Kong because of quarantine restrictions on the Chinese mainland. It starts on August 9.