Two weeks after heading the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial with Team Murka’s principal rider Peter Charles, Murka’s Vindicat W secured another victory with his rider at the Falsterbo Top League Nations Cup Show in Sweden. The nine-year-old gelding, who is owned by Olga White and Peter’s wife, Tara Charles, is one of three horses Peter is aiming at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

“Together with Murka’s Nevada V and Murka’s Pom D’Ami, I now have a trio of horses capable of winning a medal next year,” said Peter, who also topped a second major class at Hickstead with Murka’s Nevada V. “I am not the sort of person who would go to an Olympic Games if I didn’t have a chance, but these horses are more than able to be successful at that level.”

In the one-round 1.50m class in Sweden, Peter was up against 56 of the world’s top riders. To win it, he pulled of a manoeuvre none of his rivals could match.

“There was a turn going into a double combination fence which none of the other riders thought was possible to pull off,” said Peter. “But when I landed over the fence before it, I could see the turn was there. I asked Murka’s Vindicat to do it and he jumped it beautifully.”

Murka’s Vindicat, who is affectionately known as “Squirt” at home, has stepped up to top-level competition this year.

“He’s taken to it very easily,” said Peter. “Nothing seems to faze him.”