Charles aims to cast magic spell with Max
But yesterday, the stalwart of Irish show jumping was in laid-back mood and not ready to acknowledge this.
“There’ll be no test. I’ll try my best, but it does not make a difference. I’m trying to make the horse go a new way and, if it three month, six months or three years, it makes no difference.”
The double European gold champion won the ride on the British-owned gelding earlier this year, much to the chagrin of the country’s show jumping community, when Lord Harris bought the nine-year-old bay gelding.
Previously ridden by Keith Shore, he was considered a hot prospect for the Olympics. The anger at his loss to British show jumping was compounded when our near rivals failed to gain an Olympic qualifying place at the European Championships in August, while Ireland secured its ticket.
Yesterday, however, Charles dismissed the controversy, preferring to look on the positive side.
“I took the best owner out of English sport and brought him over to Ireland,” he said, dismissing reports that the horse cost £1m. “It was nowhere near that.”
Meanwhile, the British-born rider has quietly nursed the relationship along. To date, the Hampshire-based rider notched up a win in a 1.45m class in Leige, Belgium, at the start of November and was third in a jump-off class at the recent Belfast show.
Charles, however, is not planning to put all his eggs in one basket, saying he hoped It’s Magic Max would be one horse in a team of world beaters.
“I’m trying to buy a team of world-class horses to go with him,” he said, adding he was confident he would figure in Ireland’s bid for Olympic glory next year.
“My record in championships is exemplary. The only reason I stay riding is for championships and big tournaments. I’m going to spend the next 10 years riding big shows and my intention is to do next three Olympics and then retire,” said Charles, who placed 13th yesterday at Olympia with Luigi in a speed class.
Charles, a noted dealer, also pointed to his latest acquisition, the German-bred Aerobic, as a horse with nations cup potential next year.
The World Cup qualifier takes place on Sunday at Olympia, followed by the grand prix on Monday. It will be the first World Cup class for the horse and Charles will be hoping to conjure up a good result with It’s Magic Max. A good result will give strong indication of progress to date.
IRISH riders acquitted themselves well last weekend, with the four-star Maastricht show bringing some good results.
Corkman Billy Twomey placed second with Winnie Jackson in a 1.50m accumulator class on Sunday, coming home two seconds behind Robert Whitaker (Karina).
On Friday, he had to settle for sixth with horse, as Jessica Kurten (Quibell) placed fifth in a two-phase competition, having earlier finished third on Castle Forbes Libertina. A 1.50m jump-off class saw the stylish Corkman place fifth with Anastasia III.
Dermott Lennon continued his good run of form with I Caesar, coming home fourth in a hot speed derby on Saturday at the Dutch venue. The previous day, the eight-year-old Cavalier Royale gelding carried him to fifth place in a ride and drive.
In Frankfurt, Conor Swail rode Windgates King Koal to eighth and ninth in competitions boasting some of Germany’s top riders. Niall Talbot rode Arrisma 2 to eighth place on Friday.
Marion Hughes, travelled south from the World Cup show at Geneva to place fifth on Sunday in a two-phase contest on Heritage Fortunus at the four-star show in La Coruna, Spain.
Ahead of her were such notables as Germany’s Otto Becker (third on Lando), Michael Whitaker (second on Haddon House Carlson) winner Eugenie Angot (Cigale Du Tallis) from France.
IT will be the New Year before the controversy surrounding the secretary’s position in the Cork/Kerry Branch of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland is resolved, according to the branch chairman, Pat Duggan.
Yesterday, Mr Duggan said there had been no developments in the dispute, adding that “we will be hoping to take the matter up in the new year”.
The branch is due to meet in early January, and Mr Duggan said he is confident a resolution can be found to the difficulty, which has seen long-time incumbent Tony Hurley disputing a claim that he is compelled by association rules to relinquish the secretary’s post.
A SHOW jumping league will be held by Carbery Pony Club for Area 5, running on January, 4, 11 and 18.
It will be held in the West Cork Equine Centre, starting at 11am. Classes are: micro, mini, midi and maxi. Competition is destined to be fierce in the maxi class on the last day, with the Robbie Bailey trophy going to the winner.
O’Brien Saddlery, Bandon, have put up a number of prizes for a team competition in the midi classes.
Enquiries: 023/41877 or 023/49887.
