Whitakers set for a Paris showdown
Michael and Robert Whitaker claim plenty of good placings in Gothenburg and will hope to make their mark in the French capital
TWO generations of Whitakers, Robert and his uncle Michael, flew the British flag with gusto at the final qualifier of the World Cup series. Both have secured enough points over the winter for a ticket to the prestigious final in Paris in April and 35-year-old Robert also steered the promising Cash Sent to victory in Saturday’s big money grand prix, the Gothenburg Trophy.
With seven leading names going against the clock, Robert sealed victory with one of only two double clears, finishing comfortably ahead of the up-andcoming new Swedish talent of Stephanie Holmén (Carma), who trains with European champion Peder Fredricson.
The quickest time was recorded by Germany’s Marcus Ehning (Cornado NRW), but with four to add the pair took third.
“When I walked the course, I thought it did look difficult but then they had three clears from the first four riders so I thought there would be loads in the jumpoff, but there were only seven in the end,” said Robert. “There were a few very big verticals in the jump-off, which were catching a few out, so I just went quick enough to just put a bit of pressure on.”
Robert has been producing this son of Verdi for the past couple of years but it is only since Horse of the Year Show in October that he’s felt ready for the top level.
“He’s taken a bit of time but he stepped up really well at the five-star grand prix in Oslo, and then at Stuttgart,” said Robert, who also finished third to Michael Jung (FischerChelsea) in the show’s opening 1.40m speed class riding Noble Warrior. Plus, he took some good placings with his “one to watch” Val De Vauxelles Z, who has been carefully produced by Robert’s wife Kate.
WORLD CUP WONDERS
MICHAEL WHITAKER and Calisto Blue finished back in sixth in the Gothenburg Trophy with a slower four-fault round, but the Nottinghamshire-based rider’s Swedish campaign kicked off with victory in a 1.50m speed class on Jayne Bean’s 12-year-old JB’s Hot Stuff. The pair then produced one final dazzling performance to finish third to home rider Henrik Von Eckermann (Mary Lou 194) in Sunday’s World Cup. This was the Swede’s second successive triumph in this class.
Eleven riders jumped off for the 427,500SEK (£37,547) top prize, with Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts, who took three months off after dislocating his shoulder at the European championships last year, slipping into second place on H&M Legend Of Love, with Michael just 0.1sec behind for the final spot on the podium. Robert took sixth with a solid
clear from Catwalk IV in this demanding competition.
“I think I’ve done about 25 finals, so it’s about time I won it!” said Michael.
“Hot Stuff isn’t big but she has a big heart and she’s fast — today she wasn’t fast enough but she always tries her best.”
Paris last hosted the World Cup Final in 1987 and Michael was competing there that year, too.
Henrik is bidding to improve on his third place in last year’s final in Omaha and looks set to do so with some serious horsepower.
“When I saw the jump-off course, I knew it would suit Mary Lou,” he said. “You can totally trust her, you don’t need to take a pull anywhere, just let her run and use her pace and her long stride.”
While Michael is a veteran of 25 World Cup finals, this will be Robert’s debut.
“Catwalk is 15 now so I did say before Christmas that it would be good to go to the final this year because of his age,” said Robert, who picked up enough points on the circuit to finish 16th in the overall standings.