Relieved Fisher ends win drought

James Fisher had his best win for a year when he rode Traxdata G G Barock to win yesterday's Osbourne Refrigerators Derby Trial on the second day of the Traxdata Derby Meeting.

James Fisher had his best win for a year when he rode Traxdata G G Barock to win yesterday's Osbourne Refrigerators Derby Trial on the second day of the Traxdata Derby Meeting.

The win ended a lean spell for the 38-year-old Berkshire rider, who achieved the only clear round in a three-horse jump-off. He defeated Norway's Geir Gulliksen, who had one error on A- Dur, and Ireland's Cameron Hanley with two on Ballaseyr Olympic.

Fisher, who was reserve for the British team at the 1998 World Equestrian Games with Renville, believed himself to be suited to small horses with plenty of thoroughbred blood. He nevertheless bought Barock despite his initial impression that the big horse, who stands 17.2 hands high, "looked a bit like a cow because of his size".

Fisher and Barock will now take their chance in tomorrow's Peugeot Jumping Derby. "I feel the horse gets on well in the Hickstead ring. He's a really nice character with a lot of power, though he's a bit unusual and can be quite spooky."

Traxdata Derby Meeting (Hickstead, Sussex): Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial: 1 Traxdata GG Barock (J Fisher, GB) clear, 57.95secs; 2 A-Dur (G Gulliksen, Nor) 4 faults, 62.54; 3 Ballaseyr Olympic (C Hanley, Irl) 8 faults, 56.73. Traxdata Speed Stakes: 1 Virtual Village Hunter's Level (J Whitaker, GB) 78.10secs; 2 Gustel (H Luther, Ger) 83.35; 3 Step To It (C Bunn, GB) 84.45. Winners of young horse jumping championships: Four-year-old: Skip Two Ramiro (W Funnell). Five-year-old: Temple Croesus (A Clutterbuck). Six-year-old: Catapult FC (B Twomey).