Equestrianism: Whitaker finds perfect partner

John Whitaker finally found a horse worthy of his talent when he jumped a whirlwind clear round on the stallion Lord Z to win last night's national final at the Horse of the Year Show here yesterday. In the process he beat Keith Shore, who looked to have set an unbeatable time on It's Magic Max, by a cool 2.63sec.

The crowded stands erupted as Whitaker sped through the finish on the 12-year-old bay, who is wonderfully agile and has the scope to take seemingly effortless leaps from the tightest of turns. Sadly he will not be seen here again this week, as Whitaker only teamed up with Lord Z in the summer and had not won sufficient prize money to qualify him for the international classes.

Robert Smith and nine-year-old Mr Springfield, who had been rested since finishing runner-up in the Hickstead Derby in August, celebrated their return to action yesterday by winning the Dick Turpin Stakes. Their victory was achieved by the smallest possible margin when Roelof Bril, who had won this class last year failed by 100th of a second to match the winning time.

Smith and the other leading British riders here are angered by a late change to the qualification rules for Sunday's grand prix, which requires home riders to earn around twice as many points as those from overseas. "Only the English could think that one up. Just imagine the Germans doing it," Smith said.

Michael Whitaker won the Fordyce Curry Trophy on Haddon House Carlson ­ his second victory of the show.

HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW (NEC Birmingham): Dick Turpin Stakes: 1 Mr Springfield (R Smith, GB) clear, 56.22sec; 2 Izaura (R Bril, Neth) clear, 56.23; 3 Captain Wellington (A Davies, GB) clear, 60.22. Fordyce Curry Trophy: 1 Haddon House Carlson (M Whitaker, GB) clear, 36.66; 2 Cortaflex Machiavelli (W Funnell, GB) clear, 37.81; 3 Leo Z (D Lampard, GB) clear, 38.22. Horseware Ireland Rambo Cup: 1 Shearwater Gambit (D McPherson, GB) clear, 30.84; 2 Arko III (N Skelton, GB) clear, 35.68; 3 Quinten II (R Whitaker, GB) clear, 36.92. Daewoo Championship (national final): 1 Lord Z (J Whitaker) clear, 31.95; 2 It's Magic Max (K Shore) clear, 34.58; 3 Fresh Direct Parcival (T Stockdale) clear, 36.07. Horse and Hound Foxhunter Championship: 1 Unbelievable Darco (J Clee) clear, 35.89; 2 Rafiki II (C Curtis) clear, 40.26; 3 Castello (P Murphy) 4 faults, 33.28.