John Whitaker does it again! Sharid claims victory in the Six-Bar at the London International Horse Show
Monday 18 December 2023
John Whitaker is quietly becoming a bit of a Six-Bar specialist as he repeated his performance at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to win the precision test over a line of verticals to claim back-to-back wins at the London International Horse Show. The day before, the living legend and crowd favourite won the Santa Stakes.
Seventeen riders initially faced six verticals in the Six-Bar, which were raised in each round. Eight returned for round three with the fences reduced to a line of four with two strides between each, the final fence standing at 1.80m (5ft 11in). Only three remained for round four – 1.85m (6ft 1in) and these three again produced the goods to battle it out in the fifth and final round with the final fence now standing at a lofty 1.90m (6ft 2.3in).
First off Portugal’s Duarte Seabra had made it look easy in the first four rounds but Fernhill Balou Beau just clipped the final element to finish on four faults.
All eyes turned towards crowd favourite John Whitaker, and you could hear a pin drop as he approached the line of fences, the spectators holding their collective breath and willing him to jump clear. He answered their call with a magnificent clean round on the Toulon 14-year-old and was met with a wall of cheers.
It was all down to the last to go – would John win outright or have to share the money. London International debutante Adrian Schmid, riding for Switzerland, gave it his best shot but Deva V Schloesslihof toppled the penultimate rail, although they cleared the last.
The crowd erupted with cheers for the second time this week – their hero John Whitaker, also winner of Sunday night’s Santa Stakes with Sharid, had taken the spoils.
“It wasn’t easy, it’s never easy. The second round was a little bit too fast, I was lucky, but the last two rounds were absolutely perfect. Sharid is exceptional at six-bar classes."
And the crowd’s reaction: “It brings out the best in me and sharpens me up a bit!”
Image: John Whitaker and Sharid Credit: Ashley Neuhof
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