Jack Whitaker (GBR) and the 16-year-old stallion Valmy de La Lande (Mylord Carthago x Starter) kicked off the 2025-edition of Royal Windsor Horse Show with a popular home win in Friday’s CSI5* 1.55m The Defender Stakes.

Crossing the finish line in 39.40 seconds in a jump-off between 13 horse-and-rider combinations, Jack took the win ahead of his uncle and living legend John Whitaker (GRB) and his faithful Equine America Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de La Cour II) with 1.31 seconds separating the two Whitakers.

“I think I was a bit quicker in the middle of the jump-off, he [Valmy de La Lande] was flying around, and jumped amazingly," Jack Whitaker said in a press release from Royal Windsor Horse Show. "I feel very very happy to have won here on the first day of international jumping at Royal Windsor Horse Show.” 

Petronella Andersson (SWE) and Olympke Van’T Merelsnest (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Quick Star) completed the podium in third after clocking a time of 40.97 seconds, followed by Yuri Mansur (BRA) and Incanto VDL (Kannan x Indoctro) who finished fourth in 41.14. Donald Whitaker (GBR) made it a good day for the Whitaker-clan when taking fifth aboard Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky x Clearway) with a time of 42.36 seconds.

The victory in the first CSI5* class of the day, the 1.45m Pearl Stakes, went to Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Love de Vie (Grandorado TN x Vigo d’Arsouilles) with a time of 24.83 in the second phase. Laura Kraut (USA) and Tres Bien Z (Toulon x Nabab de Reve) took the runner-up spot clocking in on 25.11 seconds, followed by Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Noblesse vd Mespel Z (Nabab de Reve x Escudo I) in third in 25.41, John Whitaker (GBR) on Sharid (Toulon x Vancouleurs) in fourth in 25.69 and Sienna Charles (GBR) aboard Chawton (Typhoon S x Caletto II) in fifth in 26.09.

“I love this show, it’s great to be back, it’s a great crowd and there’s always an amazing atmosphere, so I always love to come here," Martin Fuchs said in a press release from Royal Windsor Horse Show. "It’s Love de Vie’s first five-star show. She's a really talented mare and I have high expectations for her future, so it was wonderful to start with a win."