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John Whitaker enjoys grand prix success: ‘It was a good feeling finally to win a class with this horse’ *H&H Plus*

Sarah Radford Sarah Radford

    • Unick Du Francport gives John Whitaker a well-earned win, while Michael Duffy scores for the Irish in Spain, while Joe Stockdale impresses in Vejer de la Frontera

    CSI3* Atlantic Tour, week five, Vilamoura, Portugal

    John Whitaker and Unick Du Francport captured an elusive big-class victory when they produced the fastest of four double clears to claim the Atlantic Tour’s penultimate 1.50m grand prix. The 13-year-old gelding, who has been ridden by John since 2019, has been a consistent performer at this level, but had never picked up a win.

    “I was in Vilamoura last year in the spring and autumn. Unick was jumping good and was clear all the time, but we always finished second, third or fourth – never first,” said John. “It was a good feeling finally to win a class with this horse.”

    Elio Travagliata built a suitably challenging first-round track for the fifth week of the tour, delivering seven clears from 46 starters to contest the €12,925 (nearly £11,200) winner’s pot.

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