William Whitaker lands Equestrian Surfaces Grand Prix at Chepstow CSI2* Summer International Show
Tuesday 29 August 2023
William Whitaker landed the feature 2* Equestrian Surfaces Grand Prix to finish Chepstow Summer International on a high aboard Old Lodge’s Chacco’s Lando.
“He stepped up to three-star this year and next year will step up again, he’s got plenty more in the tank,” said William.
The pair answered every question in round one over course-designer Raf Suarez’s world ranking 1.45m track in the spacious arena to join eight other clear rounds from the 63 starters in the final decider. Fifth-drawn William was in winning mode from the off, setting out determinedly to fence one and maintained a smooth yet relentless pace, cutting across oxers and verticals alike. A long, tempting gallop to the final vertical drew riders into risk and William gambled, lengthening the stride into a gallop on this eye-catching stallion and clearing the top pole with a flourish. Late challenger Yazmin Davis could only come within 0.61 seconds on Zanbowa Z to slot into second place.
“The course suited him, it was spread out across the ring and I could use his stride to be quick and still give him time to jump the jumps, and it all came off pretty much How I’d planned. He coped well enough taking out a couple of strides to the last to get the job done,” said William, on the Chacco-Blue x Lando 10-year-old stallion. “He’s very good to train and wants to do the right thing and is getting better and better.”
William doubled up in the 1* Platinum Grand prix on Falkland Des Isles in a three-way decider, the Uplands Des Isles 8-year-old comfortably easing ahead to win by 2.33 seconds.
William’s brother James also got in on the act and, just a week before his forthcoming wedding to Isabella Mitchell, James lifted the 2* Medium Tour Grand Prix title on Lucy Lutener’s Caloro EX Z. Twenty of the original 47 starters returned for the hot, competitive jump-off with the Candillo 3 x Lord 15-year-old Caloro responding to James’ every call to edge into victory with only 0.08 seconds over Matt Sampson’s King Lepantino.
“He’s been knocking on the door all week and pulled it out of the bag in the Grand Prix. It was very competitive, especially with Matt behind me, but he’s won enough recently so it was nice I got one in and beat him – but only just,” said James. “Caloro was my front runner but now he’s got a bit older and the 8-year-old is stepping up he’s dropped down a little and he’s enjoying it and still very competitive.”
Jennifer Billington pocketed the £8,000 awarded to the winner of the World Ranking 1.45m class with Flipper Darco UK Z. Seventy-two riders initially bid for this but round one reduced them to nine, Jennifer and the Flipper D’Elle x Darco 12-year-old striding out to take the win by 0.59 seconds. Speedsters British-based Jessica Burke riding for Ireland with Nikey HH and Guy Williams on Ernie of Greenhill Z had to settle for second and third.
The 6-year-old two-phase also went the way of Jennifer, Saulire Z (Stakkato Gold x Landor S) beating their 31 rivals by 2.27 seconds.
Second here, Leonie Aitkenhead went on to top the 6-year-old Grand Prix in a 15-horse jump-off, winning by 0.38 seconds on Rhapsody FG (Jilbert Van’t Ruytershof x Zavall VDL).
Sandy McLean notched up a winning hat-trick. Gino F stepped up to the plate in the 2* Big Tour 1.40m two-phase for Sandy against 88 challengers, Yazmin and Zanbowa Z again finishing second, on this occasion by 0.21 seconds. Sandy claimed the 53-horse 2* 1.35m speed by 0.40 seconds on the Quality 9 12-year-old Zoey 12 and the Platinum 1.35m Speed by 0.40 seconds aboard the Eldorado VD Zeshoek 12-year-old Eagele Z.
Laura Mantel jumped to the top in the 42-entry Big Tour 1.40m Speed on Vicky Kenny’s Klein Stargette (Big Star x Carlino), the 8-year-old claiming a 1.28 second advantage over Mark Edwards’ Royale Tale.
Katie Speller topped the 2* small 1.35m Grand Prix on Champagne VH Bergerhof Z. Eight of the 28 starters accessed the jump-off with Katie and the Cesano II x Aloube Z 9-year-old claiming a 0.65 second win.
Mark Edwards clocked up a total of five wins, including the 1* Gold Grand Prix with Gaetano Musterd. The pair topped the 51-strong Gold 1.25m two-phase by 0.67 seconds before taking the Grand Prix. The 35 starters were whittled down to six for the jump-off over the 1.35m track, Mark and the 12-year-old Darco x For Pleasure stallion storming ahead to win by 1.27 seconds.
Mark also headed the Gold 1.25m speed with Amber Bundock’s 10-year-old Jafabalou (Balou Du Rouet x Concorde) with more than four seconds to spare.
Two classes from the Platinum Tour also fell to Mark, the home-bred Tinkers Tale 13-year-old Montreuxs Tale claiming both 1.25m two-phase.
Nicole Pavitt seized a victory double on the consistent Loughan Special, a 10-year-old Irish-bred mare and recent HOYS Talent Seeker finalist, with wins in the 2* Small 1.30m Speed and 2& Medium 1.35m two-phase.
Allana Clutterbuck jumped three rounds in an even rhythm and with a happy horse to take the 5-year-old title on Michael Bates’ Ella Hope (Cornet Obolensky x Heartbreaker) with 1.74 seconds to spare in the 11-horse final decider.
Sophie Gregory was at only her second show for five months with Oh Casanova but the Womanizer x Coevers Diamond Boy 14-year-old hit immediate form to take the 1* Silver 1.25m Grand Prix by 2.12 seconds in a five-horse jump-off.
Millie Hackeborn returned triumphant in the 1* Bronze 1.10m Grand Prix with the Argento x Caspar 9-year-old Angelina, easing ahead by 0.20 seconds in the 11-strong jump-off.
Elisha Simmons claimed a double on Avalon Du Carpont, the Jivaro Du Rouet 13-year-old topping the initial 63-entry Silver 1.15m two-phase by 0.36 seconds and the Gold 1.25m Accumulator with 0.42 seconds in hand. Laura Davies was another to conjure up a winning double, taking the Bronze 1.05m two-phase and the Bronze 1.05m Speed aboard the Belgian-bred 11-year-old Heermoes.
Image: Showground Photography
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