Whitaker brothers Joe and Donald are on form in Europe
Monday 20 April 2026
Joe Whitaker took full advantage of his final draw to land the world ranking 2* Grand Prix on Hulahupe JR to conclude the meeting at Sentower Park in Belgium, on a high.
“It’s his first show back since December and I didn’t expect to win, but he pulled it out of the bag and shows his character and what a special horse he is – he’s part of our family,” said Joe.
A field of 74 faced course-designer Bernard Mathy’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.45m track, but such was the quality 27 qualified for the jump-off with initial clears. However, six withdrew at this point to leave 21 against the clock for a competitive decider.
“It walked tough but rode well and there was such a quality of field with some serious horses in it that had jumped 1.55m classes – it was always going to be a fast class,” said Joe.
In the final draw, Joe knew exactly what he had to do and proceeded to wipe 0.86 seconds off the leading time to stand top of the podium with the eager 14-year-old Hulahupe (VDL Bubalu x Indoctro).
“I’ve been very busy with coaching lately and the kids [four with wife Fiona]. My focus has been on Nations Cup and being prepared for May and June so I planned giving him a couple of months break before looking towards the summer. He knows his job and he’s got better and better with age. I’ve had him since he was a five-year-old and he’s been a winner from the off, and I bought him myself from John and Jan Bullock when he was nine,” said Joe. “He’s won two Nations Cups and this is the fifth Grand Prix win but I really wasn’t expecting it. The idea was get a few rounds in, get my eye in, shake off the ring rust and perhaps win a class next week when we’re back here, but the real aim is Bourge-on-Bresse four-star in three weeks’ time.”
Fraser Reed and SES Jumeirah proved consistent in the 2* 1.45m classes, clocking up a win and a podium place.
Fifty-five competitors contended over a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.45m speed track with Fraser easing Matthew Pike’s Diamant De Semilly x Douglas nine-year-old flying into the top spot by a breath-taking 4.15 seconds.
Twenty-four hours later in a world ranking 2* 1.45m, the pair had to settle for second. The 81 starters were reduced to 19 for the jump-off, Fraser only 0.23 seconds off the pace of Irish winner Eoin McMahon on Disney Z.
Donald Whitaker is second in the Oliva Nova 3* Grand Prix with Ulania 3
Donald Whitaker jumped into a podium place in the top-billed 3* Grand Prix on Ulania 3 in week two of the Spring MET IV in Oliva Nova, Spain.
A total of 54 competitors set out over course-designer Gerard Lacahat’s (SUI) 13-fence, 16-effort 1.50m track in this concluding world ranking Grand Prix, with 13 answering every question to return for the jump-off. Donald took a brief lead with the 12-year-old Ulania (Uriko x Acord II), but it was short-lived as Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya immediately wiped 0.46 seconds off the time on No Nonsense TN to wrest victory from Donald’s grasp.
Anna Power landed victory with Sue Edwards and Bina Ford’s Calgary PH Z, starting the week with a win, jumping to the top in Thursday’s feature class. Sixty-four contenders came forward in this speed class over the 12-fence, 14-effort 1.45m track with Anna and the Comme Il Faut x Caretano Z eight-year-old galloping to victory by an impressive four seconds.
Ellen Whitaker slipped the 13-year-old mare Conshira Blue PS (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue) into second behind France’s speedy Julien Epaillard in a 17-horse decider of the world ranking Gold 1.45m two seconds adrift of the winning time.
British riders claimed wins in the supporting classes: Tom Whitaker outpaced 73 rivals to take the Silver 1.35m speed by 0.67 seconds on the eight-year-old Gameboy SWB, Evie Banks topped a 78-strong Bronze 1.30m speed with 0.91 seconds to spare aboard the Harley 10-year-old Luciaza, Harry Wilkins beat 49 challengers on Millions OS in an early Seven-year-old 1.35m with immediate jump-off by 0.68 seconds and Adrian Speight headed a 54-horse Six-year-old 1.25m with immediate jump-off on Gypsy Casalensky (Casall La Silla x Cornet Obolensky) by 0.34 seconds.
Louis Wood takes third in the world ranking 2* Grand Prix in Gorla Minore
Louis Wood claimed a Grand Prix podium place in Gorla Minore, Italy, with Filou Moussardiere amongst good company.
Eleven of the original field of 46 accessed the jump-off of the world ranking 2* 1.45m Grand Prix with Louis and the 11-year-old Filou jumping another clear in an early draw. They dropped to an eventual third 0.32 seconds behind the winner as Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat claimed victory from mid-draw on Hadj De Bliniere.
Louis also claimed a win in a Five-year-old 1.15m speed with the sole clear on the selle Francais Qlassic Bois Margot gelding Lozange Du Bourdon.
Image: Sentower Park
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