British Riders Continue Their Run of International Success in this week's round-up
Tuesday 17 September 2024
Robert Whitaker lifts the Ascona 4* Grand Prix with Vermento
Robert Whitaker left the best until the final day in Ascona, Switzerland, to land victory in the top-billed 4* Grand Prix with Stephen and Caroline Blatchford’s Vermento.
German course-designer Christian Wiegand set a tough 1.55m track for the 35 starters and only six riders conquered the 13-fence, 16 effort course.
“There were only six clears and it had been like that all week, a lot of faults everywhere. It was very careful jumping and there were a lot of four-faulters in the Grand Prix,” said Robert, who had finished third in the 12-horse jump-off of the 4* 1.50m the previous day. “There were two big classes in the week – Saturday and the Grand Prix – so I didn’t go too quick on Saturday and saved him for the Grand Prix.”
Mexico’s Fernando Martinez Sommer set the standard in the jump-off on Lady Van De Haarterhoeve for the others to chase. Drawn favourably in the penultimate draw, Robert took full advantage of knowing exactly what he had to do with the Argento x Skippy 11-year-old – bred by his father, John – and raced into the top spot with 1.61 seconds to spare.
“There was only one clear before me and he wasn’t very fast so I aimed for a quick round without being too risky,” said Robert, who will have a quiet few weeks before targeting HOYS and the FEI World Cup legs in Oslo and Helsinki.
Jack Whitaker slotted Equine America Valmy De La Lande into third in the 4* 1.50m. Forty-six riders came forward in this hotly contended speed class over a 12-fence course, Jack and the Mylord Carthago 15-year-old only 0.12 seconds behind the winner, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs on L&L Upgrade.
The Under 25 1.45m was similarly hard fought, Jack finishing second of 19 competitors just 0.18 seconds from victory on the 10-year-old mare Karamel De Mauretus Z (Kannan x Darco).
Joe Whitaker storms to a 3* Grand Prix victory with Hulahupe JR at Sentower Park
Joe Whitaker celebrated success at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium, lifting the feature 3* 1.55m Grand Prix in fine style with Hulahupe JR.
Course-designer Rafael Suarez tested the 48 grand prix riders with an an early combination and twisting committed lines in his up-to-height 1.55m 13-fence track and only nine conjured up all the answers.
There was nothing left to chance as Belgium’s Alexander Housen had set a quick target on Elixir De Hus, and fourth-drawn Joe had it all to do. He set off at pace and the VDL Bubalu x Indoctro 12-year-old Hulahupe responded with gusto, wiping a handsome 2.42 seconds from the time to secure the win – they could not be caught. Tim Gredley was also in the mix, but four faults dropped Commissaire S down to sixth.
Tim and Commissaire qualified for the Grand Prix in fine style, topping the first of the 4* 1.50m classes to beat their 69 rivals in a fast, competitive jump-off. Eleven reached the jump-off over a 13-fence course with Tim finding all the shortcuts on the Comme Il Faut 5 x Polydor 14-year-old to edge ahead by only 0.07 seconds.
Third in an early 74-horse 3* 1.40m two-phase, Tim stepped up Guestlist to the 3* 1.50m speed against 60 rivals and the Cicero Z Van Paemel x Eros Platiere 12-year-old relished the track to again slot into third place, 1.45 seconds off the winning time.
Joe was in the money all week, picking up third in the concluding 49-entry 3* 1.45m two-phase with Vagalenco GF, the Vagabond De La Pomme x Clearway eight-year-old finishing almost two seconds behind the winner. Joe also clocked up a win in the first 75-strong Seven and eight-year-old 1.30/1.35m two-phase with Stephanie Holker’s seven-year-old Maserati WS (Etoulon VDL x Lupicor II) by 0.22 seconds and taking third in the equivalent speed 24 hours later.
Paul Sims slipped the eight-year-old mare Messy Bluna PS (Messenger x Chacco-Blue) into third in the Seven and Eight-year-old 1.35/1.40m Final in a 19-horse decider, 0.54 seconds off the pace.
Sam Hutton claims second place in the first leg of the 2024/2025 World Cup season at Traverse City
Sam Hutton gave his all in the jump-off of the first leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup 2024/2025 season in Traverse City, USA, for second place on Melusina BVL Z.
Respected course-designer Alan Wade (IRE) set a challenging 14-fence 1.60m track for the 35-horse field.
“There’s a certain set of specifications you have to follow, but unless you have faith in a surface and fence materials, it isn’t every day you’d build such a strong course,” said Alan. “The horses have been jumping amazing all week. We were setting a fair test, hoping that the better horses would get to the top and, as it was the first FEI World Cup qualifier of the season, I think it was a good start.”
The USA’s Kent Farrington the first to crack the code and post a clear round on Greya. He stayed lonely at the top for a long time, but eventually six joined him in the jump-off. As first to go against the clock, Kent set a blistering pace on the 10-year-old Greya to pile the pressure on the following riders – and remained at the top, he could not be beaten.
Drawn late in the penultimate position and making his trip from Europe worthwhile, Sam raced around the shortened course, giving it his best effort to chase Kent down on the 10-year-old mare Melusina (Mylord Carthago HN x Air Jordan Z). He came the closest but was just short of victory, 0.17 seconds dropping him into second spot.
“I was lucky enough to be drawn late, so I saw Kent go and I gave it my all,” said Sam, who is based in Belgium with Abdel Said at AS Sport Horses. “This is her first five-star clear and I’m really happy with her. It’s ben a very competitive week; nothing is given away here.”
Siblings are victorious at Peelbergen
Harry and Sienna Charles claimed a win apiece at the two-star meeting at Peelbergen in The Netherlands.
Harry steered Bandit to victory in the feature 2* Grand Prix in smooth, speedy style. Seventy-five competitors tackled the 1.45m track but only seven mastered the 13-fences to access the jump-off. Harry took advantage of his penultimate draw and cruised round on the nine-year-old Obos Quality 004 x Cruisings Micky Finn stallion to secure the top spot by a comfortable 1.10 seconds.
Harry missed out on a victory double by less than a second with Casquo Blue. Seventy-eight riders initially contended the first of the 2* 1.45m classes, with 27 safely negotiating the 13 obstacles on the course to qualify for the jump-off. Harry set a fast target with the Chacco-Blue x Carthago Z 14-year-old but slightly left the door ajar. Denmark’s Anne Kristine Truelsen spotted the opening and eased Quemoy KT ahead by 0.91 seconds.
Harry’s youngest sister Sienna commanded a similar result in the 2* Medium Tour Final with firm favourite Valkiry De Zance. The pair were on form after winning a 2* 1.45m at this venue a week earlier.
Eighteen of the original 61 starters found the key to the 1.45m track to access the jump-off, Sienna and the 15-year-old Valkiry (Diamant De Semilly x Double Espoir) edging ahead to land the top spot by 0.60 seconds.
Mark Edwards was in the money throughout the week, taking second in a 63-strong 2* 1.40m two-phase on the Diarado nine-year-old Dillinger NE 0.33 seconds off the pace, and picking up a second and a third in the Seven and Eight-year-old classes with the home-bred seven-year-old Tinkers Touch.
Emma Stoker and the 10-year-old Super Trooper De Ness daughter Skylandria claimed a 2* 1.35m win by half a second over fellow Brit Taisie de Gruchy (Comme Ci Comme Ca) and a 2* 1.40m third place, and Chris Smith scored second in the 1* 1.30m and 1.35m classes with the nine-year-old Chaplin De Leau (Monti Obolensky x Arko III) against some tough opposition.
Adrian Whiteway clinches second place in the world ranking 1.45m in France with Chacco Volo
Adrian Whiteway clinched second place in the initial 2* 1.45m in Jardy, France, with Chacco Volo.
Thirteen of the original 46 starters came through to the jump-off with Adrian and Deborah Cox’s 11-year-old Chacco-Blue x Carthago stallion jumping another clear to slot into the runner-up spot 1.26 seconds off the winning time.
Adrian also picked up third in the 53-strong 2* 1.40m speed on nine-year-old BP Baxter (Elvis Ter Putte x Pacino) 3.88 seconds off the pace.
Laura Renwick scored a victory double with the home-bred eight-year-old NFS Angelina (Arko III x Couleur Rubin) taking the 69-horse 1* 1.30m two-phase by 1.09 seconds and heading the 11-strong jump-off of the final 1* 1.35m with 0.86 seconds to spare. Lara also picked up equal second in the 69-entry 2* 1.35m speed on another home-bred, the Arezzo VDL nine-year-old Kosmos A only 0.26 seconds off the winning time.
Image credit: Sportfot
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