ROBERT WHITAKER WINS ROYAL WINDSOR GRAND PRIX
Sunday 18 May 2014
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Riders, spectators and officials basked in glorious sunshine in the fabulous setting of Windsor Castle’s grounds on the final day of the CSI3* meeting. And the enthusiastic crowds were treated to a display of top-class showjumping.
Britain saved the best until last with a clean sweep in the Alltech Grand Prix for the King of Bahrain Trophy, with Whitakers filling the top two places and the top three all selected to represent Britain in St Gallen.
Robert secured the title with a great round on Catwalk VI and cousin William slotted Fandango into second. “He jumped fantastic” enthused Robert, “I was quick between the first three fences in the jump-off, and got a great turn-back to the second last vertical. He was unlucky in Lummen and just hit the last fence in the grand prix, but generally he’s placed in every world ranking class. Now he’ll have a week off before St Gallen.”
William’s tactics of time off over Christmas before building up Fandango for the Spanish Sunshine Tour and the summer season has paid handsomely. The Swedish-bred 11-year-old posted several wins in speed and grand prix classes in Spain, and excelled here to post a double clear over an imposing, 1.60m track. “I’m over the moon with the way he’s gone, he’s not had a fence down all show, and the grand prix was big and tough enough, and he jumped out of skin in both rounds” said William.
Their 2014 performances have deservedly earned British Nations Cup selection for St Gallen. “He’s maintained his form since Spain, but he comes good when he needs to.” William was impressed with the show and its setting saying “It’s a fantastic venue and it was good to see foreign riders here – those that came will want to come back.” William was also celebrating other news, he is due to become a father for the second time. Partner Elisabeth Fredlund is expecting a little boy in August, a baby brother for Bella, 2.
Daniel Neilson and Varo M built on their fifth place in Saturday’s Bahrain King’s Cup and took third. This was another partnership on form and justifying their St Gallen team selection, and today was all part of the plan. “He’s jumping good, solid clears at grand prix level, now he’ll have a week off before we start preparing for St Gallen” said Dan.
Other British double clears were fifth-placed Tina Fletcher on the big-striding Unique IX, Peter Charles sixth on the promising Stapleton Mist, and Yazmin Pinchen in seventh with Ashkari. Laura Renwick finished eighth with one pole down in the jump-off on the up-and-coming, much-rated Bintang II.
The Speed Stakes – a speed and handiness test with two seconds added for a knock-down – saw the top places go to foreign shores. Julien Gonin from France with Queen Girl Kirvec, a Diamant De Semilly 10-year-old, eased into the top spot with 0.29 seconds to spare. Friday’s Bahrain Pearl Stakes winner, Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly, slipped Andrea into second.
A host of Brits filled the lower places, with best placed being Robert Whitaker and Lucio BK in fourth. Lucio, an 11-year-old by Lovis Corinth and out of an Alabaster mare, is a relatively new ride to Robert this year, but they have previous connections. “I rode him two years ago before he was sold to Norway” said Robert, who acquired the ride back earlier this year and met with success on the Spanish Sunshine Tour. I’m very pleased with him this week, he’s had a rest since Spain and this was his first proper show back. I think he’ll be a very useful horse and will eventually jump the bigger classes, he just needs a few more shows to get going.”
Laura Renwick and Beluga were in fifth ahead of William Whitaker on Elisabeth Fredlund’s Concorde/Indoctro 13-year-old Upperclass and William Funnell’s homebred Billy Mexico, a nine-year-old stallion son of Cevin Z.
International Results
SPEED STAKES
1 Queen Girl Kervec Julien Gonin FRA 0 58.74
2 Andrea Abdullah Al Sharbatly KSA 0 59.05
3 Loro Piana Lismeen Lancer Lucia Vizzini ITA 0 60.28
4 Lucio BK Robert Whitaker GBR 0 60.71
5 Beluga Laura Renwick GBR 61.50 (59.50)
6 Upperclass William Whitaker GBR 0 61.57
7 Billy Mexico William Funnell GBR 0 61.93
8 Lord Of Arabia John Whitaker GBR 0 62.40
9 Murkas Nevada Peter Charles GBR 62.64 (60.64)
ALLTECH GRAND PRIX FOR THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN TROPHY
1 Catwalk IV Robert Whitaker GBR 0/0 37.97
2 Fandango III William Whitaker GBR 0/0 39.46
3 Varo M Daniel Neilson GBR 0/0 41.85
4 Andretti S Laura Kraut USA 0/0 42.22
5 Unique IX Tina Fletcher GBR 0/0 42.25
6 Stapleton Mist Peter Charles GBR 0/0 45.35
7 Ashkari Yazmin Pinchen GBR 0/0 46.04
8 Bintang II Laura Renwick GBR 0/4 41.24
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