Michael Whitaker has found the one
BRITAIN’s Michael Whitaker brought his Mechelen six-bar champion Flawless to Bordeaux as he thinks this may be his World Championship horse. Bred and owned by Simon Davies, the 10-year-old by Cheers Cassini is out of a Kigali dam, and delighted Whitaker over the weekend.
“He came to me in October and was bred by Simon. I think this horse has the scope, and despite being only 10 he could be my World Championship horse,” he said. Whitaker and his brother John are in Hong Kong this week for the Longines Masters show.
Guinness steals the show
BERTRAM Allen’s seven-year-old Guinness starred in both Bordeaux’s Young Sires Masters classes organised by the Selle Français studbook.
Thursday’s sires speed class was won by French rider Hubert Pignolet with Athos d’Elle, an eight-year-old by Apache d’Adriers. He had the fastest clear from 18 starters, winning in 59.35.
Allen steered the talented Guinness, a bay stallion by Nabab de Reve out of a KWPN dam by Katell, into a creditable seventh place in 75.49.
Christian Ahlmann won Friday’s three-horse jump-off class with Solid Gold. His time of 35.53 secured the win over Penelope Leprevost’s 37.41, on an eight-year-old grey Ugano Sitte-sired GFE Excalibur de la Tour Vidal.
Allen and Guinness were impressive in taking fifth place on Friday.
“My plan is to take him to Vejer in Spain for three weeks, then tip him around a few shows here and there. I am aiming hopefully to bring him to compete in Dublin. He is a great horse and should go all the way,” Allen said.
A professional multi-tasker
OLYMPIC event champion Michael Jung competed in the international show jumping classes at Bordeaux with fischerSolution and fischerChelsea. fischerSolution is a nine-year-old Westphalian bay mare by Carthino Z, while fischerChelsea is a 10-year-old mare by Check in 2 (ARG).
Fans were delighted to see him in full action winning the indoor eventing derby and then jump in the big classes. A true multi-tasker.
McAuley is a podium contender
FEI TV commentator Philip Ghazala predicts Mark McAuley could be on the podium at the Paris World Cup finals in April. The well-known Somerset based commentator, who had Jessica Kurten on board commentating at the Europeans in Gothenburg and the Barcelona Nations Cup finals last year, has a hectic season ahead.
“I think Mark McAuley has a great chance at the world cup finals; Denis will be making a firm challenge I think and Paris will be really exciting.”
Ghazala and the team at FEI TV are hectic with Nations Cups this week in Florida and the United Arab Emirates.
Father and son
CAMERON Hanley’s son Finn (16) supported the German-based rider at Bordeaux where his dad finished in the money in both the Longines FEI World Cup and the Land Rover Grand Prix with Eis Isaura.
Finn, cheered on as Cameron produced the opening clear round of the World Cup on the 10-year-old Tinka’s Boy chesnut mare who eventually finished eighth overall to collect €4,500.
Eis Isaura was outstanding in the Land Rover Grand Prix to take seventh overall.
Hanley is aiming for World Equestrian Games selection this year and has a definite plan.
His nine-year-old Quirex, by Quirada out of a Concept dam, who is owned by Patrick Mielmik from Southern Germany is also a contender and showed in Bordeaux.
Hanley explained: “After Bordeaux we go to Abu Dhabi for the Nations Cup. Quirex had clear and four in the Leipzig World Cup and has a five week break after Abu Dhabi and then we move to Arezzo in April.”