Robert Smith won his first class of this year’s London International Horse Show at Olympia last night. The experienced British Nations Cup rider took the Tom Hudson Christmas Tree Stakes speed class with Raging Bull Vangelis S.
They recorded a clear victory, clocking 46.69 seconds to finish ahead of Holland’s Albert Zoer (Uraya), with Swedish combination Svante Johansson and Classic Lady third.
Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer is still top in the show’s leading rider standings, one point in front of Ellen Whitaker heading into tonight’s H&M Santa Stakes.
The Accenture Young Showjumper of the Year crown, meanwhile, went to Britain’s Matthew Sampson, with Joe Clayton second and young Welsh prospect Carian Scudamore third.
There was further British success in last night’s Santa Stakes finale, which carried a first prize of £4,650.
Kent rider Guy Williams emerged victorious from a 32-strong field, piloting Duhkan home in a seven-horse jump-off.
A testing 1.60metre course claimed many favourite combinations, but Williams took top spot by more than 1.5 seconds from Switzerland’s Christina Liebherr (LB Robin Hood), with Johansson and Caramell KS third.
Attention now turns to today’s event showpiece, the Rolex FEI World Cup qualifier, which has attracted 37 entrants competing for a total prize-money purse of just under £80,000.
Australian Edwina Alexander will defend the title she won last year, with top-ranked British rider Ben Maher leading a strong home-based challenge.
Ben Maher, who originated from Essex, has also upped the game of the British riders by coming in at a close second on the opening nights Christmas Pudding Stakes. He was pipped to the post by the last rider to go, fellow British jockey Robert Whittaker.
