A great week for the Whitakers

The Whitaker brothers score a grand prix apiece while a third one is snatched from final draw

- SARAH RADFORD

THE Old Lodge’s 10-year-old stallion Chacco’s Lando added a first international win to his record when he claimed the 1.45m CSI2* big tour grand prix for William Whitaker.

The pair posted a deceptively quick clear from fourth-to-jump of nine combinations through to the jump-off, which withstood all attempts to overthrow it – including a close try from the ultra-consistent Yazmin Davis and Zanbowa Z.

“The course suited me,” William said. “He’s got a big stride so I just needed to get in a big rhythm early on and keep it smooth. I aimed to go one less to the last and everything came up as planned.”

It was also a first grand prix win for the pair, who have been together for the past year.

“I knew if we just kept doing what we were doing and had a bit of luck, it would happen,” said William, who will take the stallion to Lanaken along with some of his young horses. “He’s done his first three-stars this year and coped very well.”

William also headed the CSI1* platinum grand prix with Falkland Des Isles, an eight-year-old who was gelded at the end of last year.

“It was probably his first decent class since then,” William said. “We’ve taken our time with him.” It was a good week for the