Robert Whitaker bags a win in Italy in this week’s International Round-up
Monday 15 April 2024
Robert Whitaker hit immediate form in Gorla Minore, Italy, to seize victory in Friday’s 4* 1.50m on Evert.
Seventy competitors came forward to tackle this world ranking two-phase track and the competition was hot. But they were no match for Robert and Caroline Blatchford’s 15-year-old Evert (Amadeus x Indoctro), who edged ahead to win by 0.07 seconds, pushing Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer on Scarlina De Tiji Z and Germany’s Michael Jung aboard Fischer Duopower into second and third.
Ben Maher narrowly misses out on a Global Champions Tour win
Ben Maher had to settle for second place in Friday’s feature class on the Global Champions Tour of Mexico with Exit Remo.
The Banorte 1.55m attracted an impressive line-up of five-star riders, each vying for the substantial first prize, with 13 of the original 30 accessing the jump-off.
Ben was drawn first and set the pace on the San Remo x Ferro 15-year-old with a couple of daring manoeuvres, taking out strides wherever he could and proving that nine strides on a direct line between the first two fences was achievable. He then had to sit and wait it out.
But Germany’s Richard Vogel had watched his round and took note – “I saw Ben doing that and thought my horse has a big stride, a big heart and big motivation, so I thought I could also get there on nine,” explained Richard, whose pedal to the metal tactics on Cydello relegated Ben to second by 0.55 seconds.
John Whitaker takes third in the Compiegne 3* Grand Prix with Arqana De Riverland
John Whitaker eased Arqana De Riverland into third in the feature 3* 1.55m Grand Prix in Compiegne, France.
Twenty-two of the initial field of 60 posted first round clears to make a competitive jump-off where less than half a second separated the top three. Twelve partnerships supplied double clears, John and the 14-year-old Cornet Obolensky daughter slipping into third spot on the podium 0.45 seconds behind the winner, France’s Titouan Schumacher on Illusion.
Adrian Whiteway claims a podium place in Oliva Nova’s 3* Grand Prix
Adrian Whiteway jumped a double clear on Chacco Volo and into third in the 3* 1.50m Grand Prix at MET IV in Oliva Nova, Spain.
The 59 starters were reduced to 12 for the jump-off, Adrian slotting the 11-year-old Chacco-Blue x Carthago stallion into third, 1.20 seconds behind the winner, Ireland’s Alexander Butler on Jurry Bleu K. Adrian Speight also provided a clean sheet on Millfield Baloney for fourth.
Two horses that originated at Brendon Stud, Sussex, dominated Thursday’s Gold 1.45m as Britain’s Louise Pavitt settled for second place behind British-based Irishman Richard Howley.
Sixty-three riders tackled this speed class with the on-form Richard, already a multiple winner at this venue, taking yet another victory on Brendon Stud’s nine-year-old stallion Pandito Van’t Merelsnest Z (Plot Blue x Larino). Louise guided Z7 Regal Don – the Don VHP Z x Sebastian III 11-year-old stallion bred by Brendon Stud and now owned by Team Z7 – into second place 3.62 seconds in arrears.
Joe Stockdale steered Equine Rescue Services Kandleford into second in Saturday’s world ranking 1.45m. Competition was hot as 18 0f the 60 starters returned for the jump-off, Joe and Colin Garratt’s Kannan-sired 14-year-old, bred by David Broome, finishing only 0.20 seconds behind the winner, British-based Irishman Trevor Breen aboard Luidam’s Warrior.
Graham Babes proved unbeatable in the Gold 1.40m speed, outpacing his 73 rivals by 1.11 seconds on the 13-year-old Glencoe (Chellthago Z x Numero Uno).
Tom Whitaker topped the Silver Grand Prix with Klaudius as seven of the original 43 starters successfully negotiated the 1.40m track, Tom and the nine-year-old stallion winning by 0.35 seconds.
Claudia Moore misses out on a St Tropez Grand Prix win by half a second
Claudia Moore was only half a second off winning the 2* 1.45m Grand Prix in St Tropez, France, with Hardesther.
Only eight of the 50 starters provided an initial clear over the 13-fence course to go forward into the jump-off. Claudia and the 12-year-old Kannan x Cardento mare jumping another clean sheet for the runner-up spot, 0.54 seconds behind the winner, Germany’s Nicola Pohl on Fiona Des Hayettes.
Claudia guided Bernice Cuthbert’s Half Of My Heart into third in Friday’s 3* 1.45m. The competition was fierce between the 25 riders and less than half a second separated the top four, Claudia and the 14-year-old Inshallah De Muze x Otangelo mare just 0.22 seconds behind the winner.
Harry Charles picks up second in the Peelbergen 2* Grand Prix
Harry Charles eased Sherlock into second in the world ranking 2* Grand Prix at Peelbergen in The Netherlands.
Swiss course-designer Gerard Lachat set a challenging 13-fence track for the 72 riders forward and only seven found the key. Harry jumped clear in the second round on the Bisquet Balou C x Malito De Reve 11-year-old to finish 0.73 seconds behind the winner, Norway’s Jenny Krogsaeter on Laurier.
Tim Gredley is in the money in Bonheiden
Tim Gredley eased Commissaire S into third in Friday’s 2* 1.45m at Bonheiden in Belgium.
A field of sixty-six contended this world ranking Grand Prix qualifier with 30 providing initial clears. Seventeen of those tackled the jump-off, Tim and Unex Competition Yard’s Comme Il Faut 5 x Polydor 14-year-old slotting into third 3.38 seconds off the winning time.
zl6m77knk8c5.jpg "Robert Jefferies Jumps to Victory in his Inaugural Equissage Pulse Senior British Novice Second Round at Dean Valley")
