Sam Hutton races to victory at the I Love New York Horse Show in Lake Placid with Etincelle D’Ellipse
Monday 06 July 2026
Sam Hutton scored victory in the $32,000 Purina Animal Nutrition 3* speed at the I Love New York Horse Show in Lake Placid, USA, with Etincelle D’Ellipse.
Twenty-eight competitors faced a 15-effort course set by Ireland’s Alan Wade, course-designer for the 2028 Olympic Games, with eight-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa setting a tough target on Ziggy Stardust. He proved hard to beat until mid-drawn Sam entered the ring on the 12-year-old Apache D’Adriers x Galoubet A mare and edged ahead with only 0.24 seconds to spare.
“I was getting on my horse when Rodrigo went so I didn’t see his round, but I had someone watching and she told me he was really fast,” said Sam. “I had a plan when I walked, and I know my horse really well and I knew what she could do. She’s really fast, and I know where I can take risks. I stuck to the plan and I wasn’t chasing anybody. Luckily, we were a split second faster than Rodrigo.”
George Whitaker scores a hat-trick at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco
George Whitaker enjoyed an incredible run of success at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, scoring a hat-trick with Peanut.
George started his campaign in the opening day’s Prix VIP Energy 1.40m. Forty-nine competitors contended this speed class, but no-one could catch George and he flew into the top spot by almost two seconds. His brother James made it a Whitaker one-two with second place on Just Call Me Henry.
The on-form brothers repeated the feat 24 hours later in the 32-strong 2* 1.40m speed, George and Martin Wood’s Peanut finishing ahead by 1.80 seconds of younger brother James on the Argento 11-year-old Henry.
George dropped Peanut down to the 1.30m on the final day, heading the 16-horse jump-off with 0.21 seconds in hand over fellow Brit Tess Carmichael in second on Bangle SR.
James switched up to the 2* 1.45m Grand Prix where only four of the 29 starters advanced to the jump-off, Henry tapping out a rail when in contention to drop to third.
George’s wife Michaela also got in on the act riding Lingala, teaming up with Jess Mendoza aboard Napitola-S to finish second in the Longines Pro-Am Cup 1.01 seconds off the pace. Tess Carmichael (Bangle SR) was 1.38 seconds in arrears for third with partner Chirstian Ahlmann (Sheeran WL).
Olli Fletcher jumped into second in the 36-entry 5* Prix Nikki Beach Monte-Carlo 1.45m two-phase with the 14-year-old Hello William, just 0.20 sec off the winning time.
Elizabeth Barratt topped a 31-horse 2* 1.30m speed by 1.13 seconds on the 12-year-old Class Spec (Vancouver x Harlequin Du Carel).
Charlie Jones is in the five-star money at Spruce Meadows
Charlie Jones slipped Capitale 6 into second in the Akita Drilling Cup 1.45m at the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ in Calgary, Canada.
Sixty-six competitors contended this 5* speed class with Charlie guiding the San Patrignano Cassini x For Pleasure 15-year-old into the runner-up spot 1.77 seconds behind the winner, Ireland’s Daniel Coyle on Calippo 57.
Donald Whitaker steered Costaketta PS into victory in the 35-strong Moore Equine Cup 1.40m, the Continental Blue x Stakkatol eight-year-old mare winning with 0.66 seconds to spare in the three-horse decider.
Amanda Derbyshire is on the podium at Tryon International
Amanda Derbyshire claimed a win at Tryon International in The USA with the consistent Cornwall.
Twelve came forward in the $32,000 1.45m two-phase but none were a match for Amanda on the experienced 19-year-old Cornwall, and they clinched the win by 0.16 seconds.
Amanda also finished fourth with the eight-year-old Billy Raindrop (Plot Blue x Cevin Z) – second in a later 1.40m speed 1.49 seconds behind the pace.
Amanda also featured in the $120,000 3* Grand Prix with the 12-year-old Conblue (Conthargos x Chacco Blue), leaving every fence intact but picking up two frustrating time faults to be denied a jump-off chance and finishing fourth.
Graham Babes takes a podium place in the two-star Grand Prix of Bonheiden
Graham Babes jumped into second place in the 2* Grand Prix in Bonheiden, Belgium, with Monks I Am Casall.
Sixty riders came forward to contend the 1.45m track with 14 producing initial clears returning for the jump-off. Graham and the I’m Special De Muze x Casall 12-year-old provided another flawless clear to drop into second 0.70 seconds off the pace.
Noora von Bulow eased Interstar B into second in the 2* 1.40m Final as 21 of the original 58 riders contested the jump-off, Noora and the Kannan nine-year-old finishing second 0.79 seconds behind the winner.
Image: KindMedia
.JPG "Jack Whitaker showcases a masterclass win in the Al Shira’aa four-star Grand Prix at Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International")
.JPG "Holly Smith and Nike van het Singraven continued their sensational run of form at Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International")
