British Bred Stallion Argento Tops FEI World Breeding List
Tuesday 28 July 2015
John and Clare Whitaker's brilliant British Bred dark bay 13-year-old stallion Argento has taken over the top spot in the latest World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses world rankings list (WBFSH).
The 13-year-old stallion has enjoyed an outstanding season, guided by John's masterful riding, to post a string of impressive performances that includes a grand prix victory in Hong Kong, second places in the Longines Global Champions Tour London and Monaco grand prix, plus a magnificent double clear in stamina-sapping conditions that underpinned Great Britain's FEI Nations Cup triumph in Rome two months ago.
This is the second time in just over a year that a British Bred horse has topped the list after Ursula XII owned by Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris topped the list in April 2014. Ursula XII was bred by Mrs Mary Turnbull.
Argento’s sire Arko III (owned by the Hales family) also topped the same list between October 2004 -30th September 2005.
After being ranked second last month, Argento (Arko III x Gasper) is now top of the prestigious WBFSH list, heading fellow world-class horses like the Scott Brash-ridden Hello Sanctos, owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, in sixth, while Rolf Goran-Bengtsson's London Global Champions Tour grand prix winner Casall ASK is fourth.
Speaking after Argento's second place in London two days ago, John said: "He is on very good form, and I think I'm on quite good form! He jumped great, absolutely superbly."
Argento’s breeder Keeley Durham commented "It is fantastic news for British breeding. I am very proud of Argento, and a big well done to John for getting him there."
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