Robert Smith launches show jumping syndicate

Top international show jumper Robert Smith has launched a syndicate to keep his 2012 Olympic hope Vangelis S.

Following the sales of Pilgrim, Arielle and Rolette overseas in the past year, the Robert Smith hepe the syndicate will enable Britain to retain a top show jumping partnership.

The best horses are being sold out of the country but we want to keep them here. say Robert Smith. He added that he has been planning the partnership for a couple of years — but had been waiting for the right horse.

Robert said: Vangelis S is ideal because he has come forward so quickly this year.

Businessman Tom Gittens will run the partnership. He currently runs several syndicates in racing as well as an eventing syndicate for Oslo, who is with William Fox-Pitt.

He said: Robert wanted to make sure the horse we went for was a genuine future star.

British Equestrian Federation performance manager Will Connell said Anything that keeps the top horses in the country is good news, as is getting more owners involved. Vangelis S is one of the horses we are keeping an eye on in the build-up to next year's Europeans and is a top show jumper.

Vangelis S is a British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) gold elite accredited stallion — a top horse based on performance and stallion gradings. Bred by Sharon Baldwin, the 10-year-old is by Non-Stop (Darco) out of Regina S. He recently gained World Cup points in Verona and was placed at the Horse of the Year Show (Hoys).

Vangelis S is being aimed at the 2009 Europeans and, ultimately, the 2012 Olympics.

At £25,000 plus VAT per 20th share, the scheme is not cheap. Shareholders get a percentage of all prize-winnings and stud earnings plus discounted straws of semen.