Peter Charles wins Derby Trophy on Murkas Nevada to bolster Hickstead silverware

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 16:14 EST, 25 June 2011

Peter Charles added the Derby Trophy to his 2011 Hickstead silverware collection with an impressive display on Great Britain Nations Cup regular Murka's Nevada.

Charles, winner of the Derby Trial aboard Murka's Vindicat W, prevailed after a 10-horse jump-off that also featured his Nations Cup colleagues Will Funnell and Guy Williams.

Charles had enough in the tank to see off Funnell and Billy Angelo, clocking 47.86 seconds, with Funnell on 48.49 and Bruce Menzies (Sultan V) third, a further 1.3 seconds back.

Last year's Derby Trophy ended in a dead heat between Michael Whitaker and Guido Hornesch, but Charles kept himself just ahead of his pursuers with an expertly-timed round highlighted by some precision jumping.

And the 51-year-old delivered a glowing assessment of Nevada's quality, claiming: "I think he will win a medal at London next year, I really do.

'He is looking a very serious horse. I was only cruising out there today - I didn't go that quickly and was never foot to the metal, probably about 75 per cent.

'He stepped up for the Nations Cups in La Baule and Rome this year, performing fabulously. He was only a smidgen off going double clear in both competitions.'

Nevada will now head to the Nations Cup event in Falsterbo, Sweden on July 8, when Britain will look to build on a strong second-placed showing last time out in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Hickstead’s resident Irishman, Shane Breen, rode Magic Fox to a dramatic win from the last draw in the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby for the Liz Dudden Memorial Trophy and £6,500 prize at British Jumping’s Derby meeting.