‘He’s incredible’: Whitaker makes Hickstead history with third King George win
Robert Whitaker and Equine America Vermento's 2026 King George V Gold Cup win is their third in four years
Robert Whitaker and Equine America Vermento have made history at Hickstead as the first combination to win the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup three times for over half a century.
Not since the mighty Harry Llewellyn and Foxhunter lifted the trophy in 1948, 1950 and 1953 had the same horse and rider won this five-star grand prix three times, but the 2023 and 2025 champions were victorious again this year.
Robert and Stephen and Caroline Blatchford’s 13-year-old Argento stallion jumped the faster of only two double clears to finish ahead of Brazil’s Stephanie Maciera and Novak De Kalvarie, and Canadian Nicole Walker and Panter JVH third.
“I got a bit emotional,” Robert said. “To win this with him three times – he’s amazing. Amazing.”
Only five combinations of 49 starters had conquered Kelvin Bywater’s first-round track, of whom Robert and Vermento were the first. They gave what could have been an exhibition round in this arena they know so well, and although Robert said he thought there would be more clears, rider after rider was caught out. Faults came all over the course, although the double of ditches and the white gates caught plenty out, and seven riders retired.
Robert and Vermento were first to go in the jump-off and again showed just why they have been such a success in this class, from their big open shot to the first oxer to a cracking turn to the two remaining elements of the combination to a perfect angled gallop round the open water to the last.
Next in was Nicole and her own 11-year-old stallion. They were fast and forward from before the start line, each turn a shade tighter, and they were up on the clock until that turn by the water. The slightest of slips behind – and heartbreakingly, the last rail landed on the turf.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Stephanie and Bonne Chance Farm’s 13-year-old jumped a beautiful polished clear a shade slower than Robert, then Jack Whitaker and Candice Reilly’s brilliant Jack JL had two down. Last to go, Jessica Mendoza and Summerhouse were looking on super form but the third fence fell late, and they went on to have three more fences down.
“To win it three times is incredible,” Robert said. “He jumped so good in the first round, and in the jump-off I was obviously first to go. I know this ring is very big and open, and it’s easy to knock one down, so I just wanted to do a good, safe round, and it paid off.
“He’s jumped here since he was a young horse and knows this ring inside out, and I think that really helps. There are so many elements on this course; the double of ditches, the water, the double of gates causes problems, and when you can jump those comfortably, it makes the rest of the course easy. I can ride to those fences knowing he can do it, and that makes a huge difference.”
Robert said his jump-off round was not as fast as he might have hoped.
“But it’s a big ring and easy to have one down, and that saved us in the end,” he said. “He’s unbelievable. He’s made history.”
A victory dunking! Robert Whitaker cleared the water in the class, but went into it later
Stephanie was very pleased with her first trip to the All England Jumping Course; she and Novak De Kalvarie had also jumped two four-fault rounds to help Brazil to finish just off the podium in the Nations Cup, and this was their best CSI5* grand prix result to date.
“It was my first time here, and we did a great Nations Cup,” she said. “Me and this horse are stepping up to this level; we started doing five-stars this year, and he’s getting better and better.
“I’m very pleased with him, very happy, and I really like the show and the atmosphere, and so different. I’m very happy with second place.”
Nicole and Panter are also relatively new to this level and this was again their best grand prix result, as well as their first European five-star grand prix.
“It’s incredible to be part of the Whitaker history,” said Nicole, as thanks to Donald’s 2024 win with Millfield Collette, the King George V Gold Cup has not been out of Whitaker hands since 2022. “To be third to them is amazing, I’ll take that!”
Nicole said the slight slip was unlucky, adding: “Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you have slips but the footing here is great. My horse made an amazing effort and I’m so proud of him. I ended up doing one more stride [to the last] but I’m so happy with him and our third place. I’ve had him four years and we’ve grown together, which is really nice.”
An amazing week
Nicole paid tribute to the support she had from chef d’equipe “Captain Canada” Ian Millar, who was last at Hickstead as a rider 44 years ago, and her coach Gerry Mullins, who knows the ring inside out.
“It’s been an amazing week,” she said. “The team is so supportive of each other, it’s great to be back here after 44 years, and it’s such an iconic special venue. It really was an honour to be here, and so much fun and a great experience for all of us.”
Robert, who thanked his “fantastic” owners for all their support, joins his father John as a three-time winner of the King George V Gold Cup – but his uncle Michael is still ahead.
“Michael said he’s won it four times – so I’ll have to win it again, won’t I!” he said.
Hickstead director Edward Bunn joked that the man who engraves all the venue’s major trophies thinks it is only Whitakers who compete here.
“It was a fantastic sport,” he said. “Five clear rounds, 15 four-faulters. That’s also testament to the course-building team led by Kelvin and Ben [Townley] to produce world-class sport, and I don’t think you’ll see anything better. Thank you, and we’ll see you all again next year.”
To stay up to date with the latest news from the Royal International Horse Show subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.