Robert Whitaker Reclaims the King George V Gold Cup Title at Hickstead

Robert Whitaker and Vermento returned to the top of the podium today with a sensational win in the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup, on the final day of the Agria Royal International Horse Show. After their 2023 triumph, the British rider and his talented black stallion once again claimed the trophy, writing another memorable chapter in Hickstead’s storied history.

This latest win also marked a third consecutive victory for the Whitaker family in the prestigious Cup, following last year’s success by Donald Whitaker, Robert’s cousin. Even more impressively, Robert Whitaker becomes just the fourth rider in history to win both the Al Shira’aa Derby and the King George V Gold Cup in the same year. “It’s surreal,” said Robert. “To win both is very, very special.”

The challenging course designed by Kelvin Bywater and Ben Townley proved demanding even for the sport’s elite. Out of 46 starters, only four managed to jump clear, including neither Ben Maher, who had returned to the showground after attending Harry Charles and Eve Jobs’ wedding.

Jordan Coyle of Ireland was the first to go in the jump-off, stopping the clock at 40.17 seconds aboard Chaccolino, setting a tough standard for the remaining finalists.

Donald Whitaker followed, this time riding Di Caprio, in the absence of his 2023 winning mare Millfield Colette, who had just helped secure team silver for Britain at the European Championships in Spain. Despite a promising start, a stumble in the double dashed his hopes of retaining the title.

Then came Robert Whitaker and Vermento, the 12-year-old Argento stallion owned by Caroline and Stephen Blatchford. Riding with determination, they crossed the finish in a blazing 38.88 seconds, taking the lead.

Only one rider stood between Robert and the Cup: Omar Al Marzooqi, the talented 22-year-old from the UAE, making his five-star debut at Hickstead. A slight slip on course with Enjoy De La Mure saw him finish in 39.74 seconds, just shy of the win.

“My dad John has won the King George V Gold Cup three times – now I’m at two, and chasing him!” said Robert, who’s originally from Huddersfield but now lives in West Sussex. “It’s been an amazing year for me and my owners – but the season isn’t over, and we’ve got to keep going!”

Robert and Vermento had originally been selected for Friday’s Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, but he chose to focus solely on the Grand Prix. “I jumped at Aachen last month, and it’s a lot for a horse to do both the Nations Cup and the Grand Prix. I had to think about my horse – he’s the only one I’ve got for these big five-star classes,” he explained. “He had two days off after the qualifier, so he was fresh and jumped incredibly today.”

Hickstead Director Edward Bunn thanked Al Shira’aa for their continued support: “We can’t thank Al Shira’aa enough for everything they’ve done for Hickstead. With Omar on the podium today and two UAE horses in the top six, it’s clear they’re becoming a serious force in the sport. Congratulations to them, and thank you for supporting this world-class event.”

Earlier in the day, Kent-based rider Pippa Goddard took victory in the Breen Equestrian CSIYH1 Final* with PDV Constanza, winning the jump-off in 36.01 seconds, nearly 2.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Holly Smith and Nike van het Singraven.

“She’s brave, super careful, and gives her all,” said Pippa. “But she definitely has her own mind. You’ve got to work with her, not try to control her too much. At home, we don’t do a lot – she hacks, she goes out in the field. The key is keeping her happy.”

As the curtain falls on the Agria Royal International Horse Show, the next event on the calendar is the Al Shira’aa British Young Horse Championships (14–17 August) – with free admission and parking for all spectators.

© Rights Reserved.