Horse of the Year Show

Robert Smith’s sensational Wembley run continued apace when he headed the Speed Horse of the Year on the versatile stallion, Senator Caloubet Du Rouet.

Robert, who was gaining his sixth win of the show, took every risk overthe twisty track and flew through the finish line to knock 0.31sec off the previous leading time set by Germany’s Heinrich Engemann – looking for a treble here – on Hollywood.

Billy Twomey’s smooth round on Sublime was rewarded with third place, while good early rounds that looked good enough to win finished out of the money.

The 10-year-old Caloubet, who was bred on the same farm as Rodrigo Pessoa’s Baloubet Du Rouet and is also by the great Galoubet, has been used for bigger classes, including Nations Cups, after Robert’s other top horse, Athos Du Vallot, suffered a high suspensory ligament at Modena.

“He was a speed horse before I got him, so he knew exactly what he was doing. If I kept him tothis type of class, he would be nearly unbeatable,” said Robert, who is hoping to add to his incredible tally in the final class of the show, the grand prix.

Speed Horse of the Year results:

1. Senator Caloubet Du Rouet (Robert Smith) GB

2. Hollywood (Heinrich Engemann) GER

3. Sublime (Billy Twomey) IRE

4, Fuego Du Prelet (Dirk Demeersman) BEL

5. Valentino R (Di Lampard) GB