Guy Williams produced another scintillating exhibition of his renowned speed class skills to win the JMA Agricultural Parts Trophy on day three of the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC in Birmingham. The British Nations Cup rider is among the quickest speed class exponents on show jumping’s world circuit, and he underlined his quality by romping to victory on 14-year-old chestnut gelding Casper de Muze.
Despite being drawn early to go around a testing track, Guy’s time of 56.46 seconds proved almost six second faster than anyone else, with Belgium’s Jos Verlooy finishing second on Balloon and Phillip Miller taking third aboard Da Vinci.
“I seem to go well in the speed classes,” said Guy, who moved with his wife and children from their home in Kent to last year to be based near Deauville in northern France. “I was early to go, and I didn’t take any chances, but some classes can go your way like that. I live in France, but I enjoy coming back to England. I’m still a Kent lad, and I like winning on my own territory, so I try a little bit harder when I come home, to be honest.
“Casper is probably better than a speed horse. He’s a proper winner. Today we had the handbrake on a bit with him doing the accumulator class on Saturday; I wanted to keep a bit in reserve. He did that at canter today, but when I let him off, he’s pretty unbeatable.”
A busy week in Birmingham for Guy will continue all the way through to Sunday, when he will aim his top horse Titus at the Leading Rider of the Year grand prix finale.
