Peter Charles wins Derby Trial; Guy Williams is Hickstead Master

Peter Charles and Murka's Vindicat

Peter Charles thinks Murka’s Vindicat has a big future ahead of him, and after the way he performed when winning the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial, he has every reason too.

“He’s really coming on and will make a top Grand Prix horse,” said Peter. “He’s only nine, so I won’t jump him in the Derby on Sunday, but I think he’ll be a future winner of that class, too.”

Just five made the jump-off of the day’s biggest class and Peter was third in on the son of Guidam, chasing a target set by the reigning Derby winning combination, Guy Williams and Softtrack Skip Two Ramiro.

Plan of attack
“I watched Guy go, so I knew where I had to be on the course,” said Peter, who pipped Guy by 0.18 seconds. “But it was really about jumping a clear in there rather than going overly quick. It was a big course.”

Murka’s Vindicat, who is owned by Olga White and Peter’s wife, Tara Charles, was bought from a sale at Addington Manor EC along with Super Trooper de Ness.

“Lord and Lady Harris had a share in him then, but when they relinquished their share, Olga and Tara became his owners,” said Peter.

The son of Guidam will join Peter and Murka’s Nevada for the next Top Level FEI Nations Cup in Falsterbo, Sweden, in two weeks’ time.

Derby favourite
With Peter confirming that he wouldn’t be jumping in the Derby, second placed Guy looks set to remain favourite for a second win.

“I’ve had the same preparation as last year with Skip Two Ramiro,” said Guy. “I was third in the Lummen Derby, and had two down in the Hamburg one, which is what happened last year.”

Guy Williams and Titus

Master of the arena
Having finished runner-up in the trial, Guy was taking no prisoners in the Hickstead Master’s Challenge, which he won on Titus.

Riders had to jump a course of fences under table C rules, after which the clock was stopped. They then tackled a grid of four huge gates, jumped under table A rules, on an uphill run.

“It’s quite a difficult class because you need to be fast, but not too fast because you have to save the horse’s energy to jump the gates,” said Guy.

The gates proved the downfall of many riders, with the final one falling the most frequently.

“They are quite flimsy and easy to knock off,” said Guy, who beat Nick Charles (Murka’s Midnight Lady) and Shane Breen (Magic Fox), who tied for equal second.

Titus, who is owned by Guy and Eric Larnan, has won 18 international classes, including a number of Rolex World Rankings classes, since joining Guy’s yard in December.

“He’s a very careful horse,” said Guy. “He’s got a huge stride so actually goes a lot quicker than he looks to be.”