Equestrianism: Smith and Claudius take fast track to success

Robert Smith partnered Marius Claudius to take the Sony Ericsson World Cup Qualifier here yesterday as just six of the 36 starters, representing 15 nations, survived a technically difficult course to jump off.

The six also included Andrew Davies on Limbo and Richard Davenport with Luc, giving a boost to supporters of British showjumping after a discouraging year on the international stage. They faced Ireland's world champion, Dermott Lennon, with Listalgot, and Germany's Lars Nieberg, on Adlantus As Frh, and Markus Merschformann, riding Camirez B, for the £18,500 first prize.

After the first four to go had each faulted once, Nieberg gambled on a much slower route to obtain a smooth clear round but set up the finale for Smith, whose impressive clear round in 50.53sec was easily good enough to win.

Smith, son of the legendary Harvey, is enjoying one of his best seasons since 1979, largely thanks to improved horse-power. Although he is 38 points adrift of the leader, Rodrigo Pessoa, after seven of the 15 qualifiers, Smith is hopeful that in Marius Claudius he has a horse to take him to the final in Las Vegas next April.