A budding five-year-old jockey from the Whitaker dynasty made her mark at her second-ever show with a championship win at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show. Gracie-May Whitaker was picture perfect aboard her grandfather Martin Wood’s Welsh section A Thistledown Silver Bullet to win the mountain and moorland (M&M) mini championship in the Adelaide Ring.
The pair had won the lead rein class, led by their co-producer Craig Elenor.
“This is only their second show together,” said Craig’s partner, Sara Parrott. “Martin bought him two years ago when we had him in as a colt to sell for his breeder Sandy Anderson. We’ve jockeyed him for the last two years with the aim of Gracie-May riding him this year.”
Last weekend, the attractive grey gelding won and qualified for Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) at BSPS Area 1A.
In 2023, the nine-year-old son of Friars Golden Glory won at the Royal Highland and he qualified for Horse of the Year Show.
“He’s only been lightly shown but he’s the easiest, straightest person to have around,” Sara added.
Gracie-May is the daughter of showjumper George Whitaker and former top show rider Michaela Whitaker (nee Wood), who won at HOYS and the RIHS during her career.
“It’s likely Gracie-May will go jumping soon — she’s a Whitaker — but showing is a good grounding beforehand,” added Sara.
Reserve to Gracie-May and Thistledown Silver Bullet was Lilly Ahern and the ever-charming coloured Shetland Lotuspoint Cassius who were second in the M&M first ridden class to Thistledown Vanilla Orchid and Millie Wozencroft.
Cassius, now 17, is a seasoned showman with a win at HOYS and best of breed success at London International to his name.
“Our champion went beautifully and had a great walk on him,” said judge Nicky Kirby-Moore, who assessed the ride alongside conformation judge Cheryl Scott. “It was impeccably mannered and sat in a rhythm, important for a lead rein pony.”
Talking about the reserve pony, Nicky said: “The Shetland went better in the championship than the class winner and we had to judge it as a separate class.”
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