‘She’s never gone this quickly before’
Locally-based Michael Whitaker claims the show’s top prize, while nephew Joe triumphs with four wins
MICHAEL WHITAKER made a 10-mile trip to his local venue and collected a cool £12,000 for winning the Bloomfields grand prix with Ambra II.
Course-designers Mark McGowan and Nigel Jess asked questions with committed distances, dog-leg lines and turnbacks in a 13-fence track, but quality abounded and 12 of the 54 starters accessed the jump-off.
Matt Sampson laid down an early target on Valse De Pepinvast with a gallop to the last, but Michael put in a breathtaking turn to a midway vertical and, cheered on by spectators, secured victory by 0.72sec.
Molly Orstrom’s Quintender x Grandeur nine-year-old, Ambra, was previously ridden by Italy’s Luca Moneta.
“She’s still green and big — 17.2hh — but with plenty of blood and she’s sharp and careful.” said Michael. “She jumped well on the Global Champions Tour for an unlucky fence [down] but she’s come on a lot in three months; Luca has a very different way of riding and she’ll have never gone this quickly before.”
Michael considers Ambra has top-level potential and said: “She’s genuine and scopey; she’ll never stop but sometimes doesn’t focus. Halfway through next year she’ll be a grand prix horse along with El Wee Widge and Valmy De La Lande — I have three good nineyear-olds [for the future].”
GALICA TAKES TWO
FOR the rest of the week it was the Joe Whitaker show, the unbeatable Yorkshireman claiming four wins. He doubled up with the star of the future and 1.25m grand prix on Galica, a Baltic VDL seven-year-old bought in March last year.
“She’s competitive but we’ve taken her slowly as she’s ultracareful; this is the first show I’ve really let the handbrake off,” said Joe. “I’ve already jumped a couple of 1.45m classes and I’m hoping to do world ranking classes with her. She’s rideable and careful, the rest will come.”
Lavarno stepped up in the 1.30m for Joe in another superfast, 21-strong jump-off.
“She’s my best mate, her heart is so big she wants to win more than I do. She’s got my brain in her head; before I’ve thought about the turn she’s clocked it,” said Joe, at his first big show back with the Locarno 11-year-old. “She didn’t have a break before Spain so she had a holiday afterwards.”
Joe also won the six-year-olds with Jess Crane’s Hulahupe JR.
“This the third six-year-old grand prix he’s headed. He’s a proper little trier and the nicest youngster I’ve had, he gives 100% every time,” said Joe, who lost a stirrup over fence one. “There were 21 in the jump-off, so I had to kick on regardless!”
Paul Barker dominated the speed Derby with the top two places on Sovereign Equestrian’s Kannan 11-year-old Happy Boy and the 13-year-old Lux Fabulous — both consistent winners on the county circuit this summer.
“It’s Happy’s first big show for five weeks; it’s obviously tighter indoors, but they’re both experienced and switch easily,” said Paul.
Emily Ward dominated the young rider grand prix with first and second on Steve and Caroline Barnes’ ARD VDL Douglas 11-year-old Millioninmind (Dougie) and Anne Bedford's big-jumping Remi Cavalleri.
“Dougie looks Irish but he’s not particularly brave. He’s precious and likes to be loved, but in the ring his mind’s on the job and he’s always looking where the poles are,” said Emily.
“Remi’s unique and unconventional, but trustworthy and so scopey I can turn back to 1.60m without thinking.”
Rutland-based Sarah Williams claimed the venture grand prix with Larocco A, a seven-year-old bought 15 months ago.
“He’s so careful and adaptable for a big horse of 18hh,” said
Sarah. “He’s destructive at home and wrecks everything, but once I’m on he just wants to please.”
Three cleared an impressive 2.15m wall to share the puissance honours — Murray McLeish on Edelboy VD Renger, Chelsea Skelton with Millfield Baloney and India Bussey aboard
Florida VDL.
“I couldn’t put it high enough, it was 1.90m in the third round — serious jumping,” said coursedesigner Mark McGowan.
YOUNGSTERS ON FORM
TIM DAVIES topped the sevenyear-old title with his national championships Foxhunter masters winner, Lionel Van De Markieslanden.
“He’s naturally quick and wants to jump,” said Tim, who spotted Lionel in Belgium.
Ronnie Jones captured the five-year-old championship with Ruth and Ian Dowie’s Interstar B, an I’m Special De Muze x Ohorn gelding bought from Roelof Bril in May.
“I can ask a lot of him and he takes it all in his stride. His attitude means he’s well ahead
[of his peers],” said Ronnie of his five-year-old champion.
Brooke Hunter took out a stride to the last to claim the four-year-old title on Otis Van De Dashoeve, a Casino Royal Van De Hunters gelding bought in February and broken in March.
“He was easy to break in but he’s got so much attitude; he likes to bite and if you tell him off he’ll bite again. He’s like a terrible toddler, but he's so good in the ring — this was the biggest he’s jumped,” said Brooke.
Joss Williams’ final round flyer on the 16-year-old Zandokan earned the 1.10m title.
“He was asleep when we got him ready — he loves a nap — but he’s had a whole bag of oats this week and he’s a golden oldie, he conserves everything for the ring,” said Joss.
Harry Bateman clinched the midway title with Jackie Jones’ Greta Garbo, a six-year-old bought from Brightwell Sales three years ago.
“I turned tight and kicked hard,” said Harry, who meets the mare at shows. “She only started jumping in March and has so much scope, it all comes naturally to her.”
Rikki Gradley secured the amateur 1.20m with his wife Claire’s home-bred Cunning
Devil Z x Cruising eight-year-old Cassandra Z II.
“She can be sharp but she’s competitive, straight and kind,” said Rikki, who has her full sister waiting in the wings.
Stacey Cook topped the points league in this class on Gigant to win a brand-new Ryder saddle.
Pony European team gold medallist Shaunie Greig switched to horses and outpaced all in typical style to take the 1.15m title on Hero II.
“He’s cheeky and forwardgoing, so a lot stronger than the ponies,” said Shaunie. “I’m just getting used to him but as we’ve concentrated on the Europeans, he hasn’t been out much.”