Graham Gillespie and Ellen Whitaker show consistent form in Europe in the international round-up of the week
Monday 18 December 2023
Graham Gillespie and Veneno were consistently in the money in the four-star classes in Frankfurt, Germany.
Graham guided Veneno into second place in Saturday’s 4* 1.50m. Eighteen of the original 40 starters returned for the jump-off in this world ranking class with Graham posting another clear on the Chacco-Blue x Baloubet Du Rouet 15-year-old to finish 1.77 seconds behind the winner, Germany’s Philip Ruping on Baloutaire PS.
Twenty-four hours later, the pair claimed third in the feature Grand Prix.
They maintained their form over a tough 1.55m Grand Prix track where only four of the original 36 starters supplied initial clears to return for the jump-off. Four faults marred Graham’s second round on the Chacco-Blue 15-year-old and they dropped to third. France’s Julien Anquetin took the win with the only double clear – and the fastest time – aboard Z Ice Cube Z.
Ellen Whitaker was a tiny fraction off winning the top-billed 3* Grand Prix with Amaretto Daisy on the final day of the final week of the 2023 Mediterranean tour in Oliva Nova, Spain.
Sixty riders tackled the world ranking 1.50m course but only eight mastered the track to access the jump-off. Ellen was on form with the 10-year-old Amaretto Darco daughter but had to settle for second place only 0.12 sec off the winning time set by Spain’s Laura Roquet Puignero on Denis Z. Jane Annett was also double clear for fifth with the 10-year-old Impala.
Ellen and jumped Amaretto Daisy had taken second in Friday’s 77-strong world ranking gold 1.45m speed 1.10 seconds behind the winner. Adrian Speight guided Millfield Baloney into fourth just ahead of Chris Smith’s eight-year-old Messarado Blue in fifth and Sameh El Dahan filled sixth spot with WKD Aimez Moi.
Ellen slipped Conshira Blue PS into third in Sunday’s 71-horse world ranking gold 1.45m two-phase, the 10-year-old Conthargos daughter finishing 0.34 sec behind the winner.
Jane Annett supplied a double clear for third in Saturday’s nine-horse decider of the 53-strong world ranking gold 1.50m 2.38 seconds off the winning time with the 12-year-old stallion Billy Tudor (Cevin Z x Andiamo Z).
James Smith missed out on a win by a little over half a sec, settling for second in Thursday’s gold 1.45m speed and grand prix qualifier on the 12-year-old Lissyegan Luise Royale (Luidam x Cruising) by 0.56 seconds.
Jess Mendoza eased I-Cap CL Z into third in Thursday’s $40,000 1.45m two-phase at Fort Worth four-star meeting in The USA.
Twenty-seven competitors came forward in this two-phase class with Jess posting a double clear on the I’m Special De Muze x Air Jordan 11-year-old 1.07 seconds behind the winner, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny on California Pie.
Image Graham Gillespie and Veneno Credit: Showground Photography
