James Whitaker wins the Wellington Riding's CSI2* Grand Prix

Monday 24 May 2021

James Whitaker wins the Wellington Riding's CSI2* Grand Prix

 

James Whitaker left the best until last at Wellington Riding’s inaugural 2* International to pocket the £6,000 to the winner world ranking grand prix on the Lutener family’s Caloro Ex Z.

Forty-three competitors came forward to face the 1.45m track and with seventeen posting first round clears to return for the jump-off, it was always going to be about the clock with 12 again coming home penalty-free. 

“We were lucky with the weather compared to the forecast, it rained a little during the course-walk but then brightened up,” said James, who found the course walked “Not massive but technical. I was surprised they had that many clears.”

James had shown a run of form over the four days with a third and a fourth in the big classes and he hit top gear on the final day to win by 1.98 seconds on the Candillo x Lord 13-year-old Caloro.

“Louise Simpson was just before me, set off like a rocket and went into the lead by more than three seconds, I knew I had to pull my finger out and I didn’t take a backstep,” said James.  “He’s been jumping well so I took a few risks and got a great shot to the last oxer – it felt a bit hairy-scary but looking at the video, it was OK.  He’s enjoying his jumping and it all came together today.”

Anthony Condon had to settle for second with the Hales family’s 10-year-old Zira VH Kapelhof Z and Harry Charles netted third place with Peter Charles and Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein’s Aralyn Blue and Louise Simpson’s Starouge in fourth.

Harriet Biddick marked her first International win following the birth of her first-born three-and-a-half-month-old Archie with victory in the first of the 2* 1.40m classes with Old Lodge’s Night of Glory OL.  A big entry of seventy-five tackled this speed track with Harriet and the 11-year-old Emerald x Codex mare flying into the top spot by 0.69 seconds.

“She has lots of ability but she’s had a long break and she’s taken time to settle so we use a liquid titanium hood – they’re trendy at the moment but it has made a difference with her; she’s sensible at home but nervous in the ring and she is a chestnut mare,” said Harriet, who had been travelling an hour and half journey home each night to be with Archie and husband Will – currently out of action with a broken ankle – “I’ve needed Daddy Day Dare but he does struggle with a crutch and a baby!”    

Harriet and Night of Glory had to settle for second place the following day as Paul Crago came to the fore on June Hof Ter Zeedycke.  Forty-five came forward in this two-phase class and it was all about the clock as twenty-nine of them went through to the second phase, Paul easing ahead on the Clinton I x Landlord 12-year-old to win with 0.27 seconds in hand.

Robert Murphy’s recent form continued and, after winning a 1.40m at South View a few days earlier, it set him up for victory on day one’s 2* 1.35m with High Quality III.

Seventy-four competitors turned out for this single-phase class with Robert and Lisa Holmes’ 9-year-old Quality Time x Carthino Z mare easing ahead to win by just 0.14 seconds over Ben Clark aboard Beechfields Mastermind.

Ben conjured up a hat-trick of wins.  He outpaced all 37 challengers in Friday’s 2* small tour 1.30m speed with Beechfields Mastermind, the Irish-bred, Puissance sired 15-year-old claiming a 1.98 sec advantage. 

“He’s been there and done it, I share the ride with Thomas Powell, he jumps in 1.10m and I borrow him for the bigger classes.  He’s a genuine, consistent diesel horse and a lovely character,” he said.

Ben also came out on top in the 2* small tour final over a 1.35m track, expanding his form to take the top two places.  The forty-seven starters were reduced to eighteen for the jump-off with Ben clinching the top spot aboard Julian Mincher’s Zalerno x Lancaster 12-year-old Marina Z.  And he picked up second with Mastermind, 1.93 seconds separating the two.

“I’ve never been so fast in my life, it was scary but she’s better when she’s dared and I let her run,” said Ben.  “She’s been off form after taking embryos off her, it messed with her system but she’s come back and is almost herself again, I’m going to aim her at Young Riders this year.”

Ben rounded off the show with the six-year-old final on his mother Kim’s Cornet Obolensky x Aldatus Z mare River Field Cornet Chin, topping the 10-strong decider by 1.09 seconds.  

“She was bought from Brightwells Sale at Addington as an unbroken 3-year-old and I’ve produced her steadily.  I hadn’t pushed her against the clock but she’s quick, nippy and careful and always tries her heart out so I could let her run,” said Ben.

Taisie de Gruchy notched up a victory double.  She dominated the initial 2* 1.30m two-phase with two of the top three places, heading the 40-strong class by 0.28 seconds on the selle Francais 8-year-old Daisy De Troix Croix and claimed third with Vivienne, sandwiching Jay Halim’s Winning Moon into second.  

Taisie also outpaced her 20 rivals in the LeMieux 1* 1.20m two-phase with 0.42 seconds to spare on the Aertbreaker x T Is Voltaire 14-year-old Winner of Picobello Z, pushing Friday’s 1.20m winner Lauren Turnbull and Bilbao Du Banney into second. 

Jay Halim scored a hat-trick of wins including the 1* big tour 1.25m final on Ghost Buster Fortuna HH.  Eighteen of the thirty-three starters returned for the jump-off with Jay galloping ahead on the Quality Time TN 10-year-old with 0.96 seconds to spare.

Jay doubled up with the Billy Congo 11-year-old Billy Cointreau, taking the initial 1.10m and Friday’s 1.15m but missed out on another win in the small tour 1.15m final by 1.72 sec and had to settle for second.  Charlotte Uden shot to the top spot on a new ride, the 11-year-old mare Heartstring (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Heartbreaker), in a 13-horse decider.  

For full results visit www.wellington-riding.co.uk

 
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