Italy's Jerry Smit, who only heard of his last-minute invitation to jump at this week's Olympia Christmas show while competing in Geneva last weekend, made the most of his chance by winning last night's feature Volkswagen Stakes from a last-to-go draw with Loro Piana Lux Z.
Smit, who was born in Milan of Dutch parentage, is drawn 30th of the 37 runners in this afternoon's World Cup eliminator that will select the 20 that go through to fight for league points in tomorrow's World Cup proper.
Peter Charles, the sole Irish contender at the London fixture, has 15 points on his World Cup tally after finishing third with the talented but difficult mare Amber du Montois in the Millstreet round.
Volkswagen Stakes - 1, Italy's Loro Piana Lux (Jerry Smit); 2, Germany's Paramo K (Franke Sloothaak); 3, Switzerland's Dulf (Lesley McNaught); 4, Germany's Goldfever (Ludger Beerbaum); 5, USA's Arnica de la Barre (Alison Firestone); 6, Germany's Loro Piana Giorgio (Lars Neiberg).
Christmas Candle Stakes - 1, Britain's Virtual Village Randi (John Whitaker); 2, Switzerland's Nithard (Willi Melliger); 3, Britain's Senator Tees Hanauer (Robert Smith); 4, Germany's Gio Granno (Franke Sloothaak); 5, Switzerland's Pozitano (Beat Mandli); 6, Austria's Rumus Innovation (Anton Martin Bauer).
Christmas Stakes - 1, Britain's Virtual Village Two Step (Michael Whitaker); 2, Britain's Equity (Di Lampard); 3, Holland's Cupido (Carry Huis in't Veld); 4, Britain's Flits VD Grootstraat (Nick Skelton); 5, Italy's Bachus (Arnaldo Bologni); 6, Switzerland's Corlanda (Willi Melliger).
