Charles on the lookout

Equestrian Sport: Peter Charles, the sole Irish rider at London's Olympia pre-Christmas show jumping extravaganza, is still on the lookout for a new star after losing all his best horses this year.

The 43-year-old steered the European gold medal ride Corrada to a third successive Hickstead Derby victory in August, but knew that was his last competitive outing on the mare. The 14-year-old has been sold to America and will be ridden on the young rider circuit.

Charles, who celebrates his 44th birthday next month, had hoped he could stitch a clause into the deal that would allow him to ride the mare at Hickstead next summer in a bid to equal Eddie Macken's historic four Derby wins at the Sussex venue.

"But the mare's gone, 110 per cent," Charles said at Olympia yesterday, "and I won't be getting her back."

There is an agreement that Corrada will return to Charles' Hampshire base when she retires and he plans to breed from her, but he is now on the lookout for a replacement, with wealthy backers Lord and Lady Harris ready and willing to foot the bill, whatever the cost.

But Charles has still not managed to find a horse to fill the stables left vacant by Corrada and the gelding Carnavelly, which is now with British rider William Funnell, winner of the opening class at Olympia yesterday.

Lord Harris bought It's Magic Max for Charles in the middle of this year after the nine-year-old had become the talk of the British circuit. The gelding won a class at Liege in Belgium last month and Charles has great faith in the horse, but is looking for others to join the string.

"But it's very difficult to find them", he said. "I'm looking for good grand prix, championship horses, and Phil Harris is with me for the long haul - at least 10 years. My ambition is to do the next three Olympics and then retire, and when I do get out of the game it won't be because I'm too old to ride, it'll be the travelling that stops me."

Charles missed out on the money in the opening classes at Olympia yesterday, but was still pleased with the performance of newcomer Aerobic, an eight-year-old which he was riding for the first time.

A half-brother to Nick Skelton's top horse Arko, Aerobic came to Charles in part-payment for Lavaletto, one of the top money winners in Britain this year which was sold to America for owner Michael Bates in a deal brokered by Charles.

OLYMPIA (London) - Welcome Speed Stakes: 1, Britain's Cortaflex Machiavelli (William Funnell), 0 faults, 53.35 seconds; 2, Germany's Diamonds Daylight (Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst), 0, 55.91; 3, Britain's Randi (Robert Whitaker), 0, 60.00. Martin Collins Stakes: 1, Britain's Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs (Tim Stockdale), 50.31 seconds; 2, Sweden's Ricarda T (Maria Gretzer), 53.23; 3, Britain's Loro Piana Hamlet (Guy Williams).