Press release from Hickstead Press Office, edited by World of Showjumping

Mark Edwards (GBR) and Royale Tale (Montreuxs Tale x Animo) won today’s CSI4* 1.45m Brilliance Horse Auction Speed Derby at Hickstead in definitive fashion, finishing more than 7sec clear of Joe Whitaker (GBR) and Icaterina (Durango VDL x Otangelo) in second.

Making the most of his penultimate draw, Mark and the super speedy Royale Tale blazed round the lengthy course to cross the finish in 95.80sec to clinch the Liz Dudden Trophy. They were one of just two clear rounds, with the other produced by Hamburg Speed Derby winners Georgia Tame (GBR) and Loughton Diamond (Diarado x Cruising), who finished in seventh place in a time of 110.30sec.

Edwards has been on an exceptional run of form late, and was being cited by his fellow competitors as the pre-class favourite to win today’s feature class. Mark had already claimed an International Arena win at Hickstead with other ride Flying Tinker II, winner of Thursday’s Stoner Jewellers Vase, while Royale Tale went well in Friday’s Agria Derby Trial to finish 11th.

“The Speed Derby has been the plan for her for the last couple of weeks – she’s been in great form. She should have jumped clear in the Derby Trial yesterday, but I mucked it up for her,” said Mark.

He is now in the enviable position of choosing whether to return for another tilt at winning the Speed Derby in 12 months’ time, or to step up to the Al Shira’aa Derby itself. “With the way she went yesterday, I think she’d be really good at the Derby. We were tempted to put her in there for tomorrow and leave it for today, but we made the right decision. A year’s a long time, so hopefully we’ll have a good season and reassess in the new year,” he added.

The first major title Mark won was the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead in 2021 with Montreuxs Tale, and now he is having continued success with that horse’s daughter, the 10-year-old Royale Tale. Asked his strategy for winning a first Speed Derby, he said: “We just kept in a good rhythm and kept running all the way to the finish. She has such a big stride that she gets away from the fences quickly. She’s nice and quick and a real winner, and this was great fun – I’m thrilled to be here.” 

It was Joe Whitaker’s mare Icaterina’s debut in this class too, and he believes she could well be in with a chance of going one better next year. “She never really got on the bridle well enough to be competitive and keep up with Mark on the time, but she settled into the round really well about halfway through. She’s such a genuine mare,” he said. “I think everyone had the opinion that Mark would win this – he’s the man to beat every time he goes into the ring at the moment.”

In third place, for the second year in a row, was Jessica Hewitt and Hot Bluebird (Plot Blue x Heartbreaker) – meaning all of the top three horses in this year’s Speed Derby were mares.