Louise Pavitt was the star of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, winning the Alltech Grand Prix on Brendon Stud’s Don VHP Z, the eight-year-old stallion with whom she had already triumphed in Thursday’s Land Rover Open.
Louise jumped the round of her life to defeat 12 rivals in the grand prix jump-off, with Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Kalico Bay) and William Funnell (Billy Congo) having to settle for second and third places.
“He’s an absolute superstar,” said Louise of the son of Diamant De Semilly out of a Voltaire mare, who was bought in Belgium by Shirley Light as a two-year-old.
Despite finishing second, Tim Stockdale was delighted with Colin and Ann Garrett’s Irish-bred gelding. Tim is only just back from the broken neck he sustained six months ago, but is putting together a string of good results.
However, he did give everyone a fright in Saturday’s Land Rover Six-Bar, when he suffered a fall after jumping the winning round on Fresh Direct K2.
“I’m glad to have got my first fall since my accident over with,” he said afterwards.
Sam Hutton’s two wins here included the Martin Collins Enterprises Ladies’ and Gents’ Championship, in which he and Cornetta 10 finished ahead of Louise Pavitt on Don VHP Z.
The nine-year-old German-bred daughter of Cornet Obolensky has not been with Sam long, but his trainer, Tony Newbury, thinks she is a future international grand prix prospect.
Seventeen-year-old Chloe Aston made her first International Trial appearance a winning one when she and Kolibri Classic galloped round the jump-off course to beat Tina Fletcher with Ursula XII. Hertfordshire-based Chloe enjoyed spectacular early season success on the Spanish and Portuguese tours and this was an extra step up the ladder on her way to the top.
Alfie Bradstock was another 17-year-old who topped the line here. His victory came in the opening day’s Walwyn Novice Championship on Graham and Tina Fletcher’s home-bred mare Foxglade Little Lady.
The multi-talented Alfie is a former pony European eventing gold medallist and could easily make his name in the horse racing game. His father is trainer Mark Bradstock and his grandfather is the celebrated amateur jockey and journalist Lord Oaksey.
William Funnell also had a good show and won Friday’s Land Rover A and B on Billy Congo. This home-bred stallion by William’s former championship team ride Vechta is coming into form nicely and William is hoping to take him to some Super League Nations Cup shows with his other top ride, Billy Angelo.
Mark Armstrong was another double winner, heading the seven- and eight-year-old championship on Sue Welch’s scopey Zagahorn and galloping to victory in the Kingsland Speed Stakes with David Wenman’s good mare Lavaletta II.
For a full report, see Thursday’s Horse & Hound
