Popular British rider William Whitaker is on a roll at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Having shown his mettle over height last night, taking joint first by clearing 7ft2in with RMF Charly in the Cayenne Puissance, he proved his competitive versatility with a speed win in the Shelley Ashman International LTD, E M Rodgers (Transport) Ltd Snowflake Stakes by a whopping 3 seconds with RMF Chacco Top.
“He [Chacco Top] had a couple of down yesterday, but he needed to get used to the arena,” said William.
Being drawn in the first third of the field, William, who is based between Germany and the USA, had to set a tough target.
“The crowds really help to give you a boost,” he said. “they are like that right throughout the show.”
The tactic worked and after a number of rivals collected faults trying to chase him, while others opted for a steadier pace and a safer placing. Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (Cas) came the closest to take second.
William, whose three young children are supporting him at the show – “they wouldn’t miss show for the world” – has been riding for Rushy Marsh Farm since the beginning of the year.
“I went to Rushy Marsh Farm’s Florida base and did the winter circuit there,” William explained. “We then came back to Europe in the spring.”
