William Whitaker takes the 7-year-old final at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Finals
Monday 21 August 2023
William Whitaker set an early target with a deceptively quick round on Neil Fiddes' Lancaster to take the Al Shira’aa 7-year-old title at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Finals.
A total of 51 competitors came forward to face course-designer Raf Suarez’s 12-fence track starting at 1.35m with 12 proving foot-perfect to gain access to the jump-off. Second out William maintained an easy, seemingly unrushed rhythm, smoothly negotiating the turn options and easily clearing an early, tall vertical which proved the bogey for following competitors. The Dutch-bred Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Indoctro gelding, bred by The Vanderbosch family, answered every call to set an unbeatable target, winning by 4.68 seconds.
“He’s talented and would rank amongst the best youngster I’ve ridden,” said William, who admitted to having a slow start to the week. “But the horses improved throughout the week here and I knew there was still plenty to play for – I’m very pleased, he jumped fantastic.
“I’ve had him for two years now, he’s got an exuberant jump, very good behind with a good brain. He hasn’t had a massive amount of experience against the clock but to come and jump like that in this arena shows he has a lot of the qualities needed to go to the top.”
Alfie Bradstock steered Shannondale Anzac (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Cult Hero) into second place with Serena Kullich easing the top British-bred Benfields Victory (Billy Congo x Pauldarys Romeo), bred by Daren Ward, into the only other clear round to take the whole of the clear round £4,000 bonus, which is awarded to any horse who jumps clear throughout the show.
“He’s incredible, the best horse I’ve sat on. I was nervous in the first round but after going clear, I felt more confident,” said Serena.
Trust and determination were on display in the Windmill Hill 6-year-old final as Ben Bick took committed lines against the clock for the title on John and Laura Renwick’s home-bred NFS Corluga. The decisive clear also earned a half share of the generous £4,000 clear round bonus on offer as well as the best British-bred horse.
Twelve of the 56 starters returned initial clears over a 12-fence 1.30m track to battle against the clock in the jump-off with Joe Trunkfield taking an early lead on the first of his two rides, Corvette VH Reukenis Z.
Two horses later, Ben went tighter and quicker, taking out strides on the Cornet Obolensky x Heartbreaker gelding – out of Laura Renwick’s former top speed horse Beluga – to wipe 2.42 seconds off the leading time.
Ben only started riding Corluga at the beginning of August, this was their fourth show together.
“If you start worrying about winning the bonus, you become too cautious and make mistakes. John [Renwick] said, ‘Have a go, what will be, will be’, and it was good he trusted my judgement. Corluga is so naturally quick and careful; I was a country mile off the last fence, but he bust a gut to clear that oxer – he has the heart of a lion,” said Ben. “John and Laura have some fabulous young horses and it is a pleasure to get the opportunity to ride them.”
Joe gave it his best shot on second ride Veddettes Cicero (Cicero Z x Phin Phin) to slot into second 0.89 seconds behind the winning time and gain the other half of the clear round bonus money of £2,000. Joe also picked up third with Corvette (Cicero x Corland) with William Whitaker in fourth aboard the Glasgow stallion Martini 11 with the final double clear.
Joe was singing all the way to the bank as he maxed on his final draw to snatch the Dallamires Stables 5-year-old title with Sing Z.
A total of 57 horse qualified to jump in this final over course-designer Raf Suarez’s 12-fence 1.20m track and 19 achieved the initial aim to access the jump-off. Lucy Townley set an early target on Billy At Last (bred by Donal Barnwell) but Nicole Lockhead-Anderson aboard Tom Williams’ Quanthargos PS found a shorter route and a winner looked to have been found as she held on to the lead.
You never discount Joe Trunkfield and he made full use of his final draw with Sing Z – a winner of a qualifying class earlier in the week. He started seemingly quiet but smoothly nipped in a couple of inside turns, keeping an easy rhythm all the way to land the win by 0.26 seconds. The final clear also earned a share of the £4,000 clear round bonus.
The Copycat Z x Contact VD Heffinck gelding joined Joe as a two-year-old.
“From day one, he jumped like a freak. I didn’t get the stride I wanted from fence one to two and I rode like a Wally but he never stopped trying and jumped everything. He’s never been out of the top three since I’ve had him and never knocked a jump down in the ring – but that will happen one day,” said Joe, who thanked his joint owners. “I originally owned him with a friend of mine but they wanted to do different things, so the Chapmans stepped in and invested in him with me.”
Nicole had to settle for second place on Quanthargos PS (Quantos x Conthargos) and picked up part of the clear round bonus, with Lucy on the best of the British-bred horses, Billy At Last (Cevin Z x Lux Z), in third. Nigel Coupe jumped Billy Worcester (Billy Du Mointois x Vechta) into fourth for the Billy Stud to get a double share of the British Breeders award. British-bred horses also filled fifth and sixth – Angel Tough on Nicole IV (Fruselli x Zacharov) and James Ingham with his home-bred Vandro B (Sandro Boy x Marcolas G) and both took home a share of the clear round bonus – worth £800 each. Ben Bick was the other rider to claim the clear round bonus in seventh on Top Star C (Big Star x Darco).
Tony French landed the Ashdale Sports Horses 4-year-old title by just half a point on Urban Legend Z.
Twenty-five of the original 59 starters jumped clear in the first round and were judge on style and performance by William and Pippa Funnell with Tony edging ahead on the Untouchable 27 x Nabab De Reve gelding owned jointly with Danielle Ryder and bred by Willem Van Hoof.
“He’s very big, very green but does everything I ask of him and takes it all in his stride,” said Tony.
Paul Sims piloted Pat Morris’ coloured home-bred High Offley The Colour of Money (Fernando x Arab Van Het Molenhof) into second with Rachel Proudley one point behind for third on Ohorn Van De Renvillehoeve (Impressive VDL x Indoctro). 18 horses and riders shared the double clear £2000 bonus.
“It was a difficult job, there was some very good rounds,” said Pippa, who focused on technique and rideability and, “Can you see them canter into an Olympic Stadium or Aachen, that X Factor is important; they’re only 4-year-olds but exciting ones for the future.”
William also found judging a tough job: “Tony’s horse showed the best on the day and it’s difficult to keep them showing the Wow factor over seven fences, they’re only babies but it was nice to see some British-breds in the line-up.”
Owner Danielle Ryder was delighted: “We couldn’t have had better results – this one definitely looks like one for the future.”
Image: 1st Class Images
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