David McPherson won the Derby Vase at the British Derby Meeting at Hickstead this afternoon. Partnering the dark bay Santorin F, McPherson completed the one-round competition in a time of 64.8sec. The victory marks McPhersons second triumph at this years Derby Meeting; yesterday he won the Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard.
Only a handful of competitors cleared the CMM Derby Vase course with no penalties. Tina Fletcher (Overa) and Swedens Jens Fredricson (Diorissimo) produced the first clears, but both clocked up time penalties. McPherson, who was fifteenth to go, was the first to jump clear within the time allowed — and his 64.8sec score proved unbeatable.
John Whitaker and Hugo du Heup made a gallant effort to trump McPherson but finished exactly four seconds slower to take the £600 second prize. Third place went to Swedens Helena Lundback with Madick.
In this mornings Speed Derby qualifier Irelands Shane Breen and Mullachdrin Gold Rain took home the £500 first prize. Ben Maher (Mercurius) finished second with Ellen Whitaker (Henri de Herne) in third.
