Edited press release from Royal Windsor Horse Show

Sunday's action at the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2023 kicked off with the CSI5* 1.50m Manama Rose Show Stakes, a single round against the clock. 

Belgium's Gregory Wathelet opened the class, riding the fourteen-year-old Clarity (Clarimo x Ephebe For Ever). Despite being first in, the combination took a stride out down to the last water tray fence, securing a clear round in a time which proved unbeatable throughout the competition – 56.10 seconds. In doing so, Wathelet added another win to his impressive resumé, which includes a team bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and 36 Grand Prix wins. 

The course produced only eight clears – with many of the best, including the likes of former world no. one Daniel Deusser, picking up four faults. The only two Brits to finish with a clean sheet were William Funnell and Jack Whitaker. Whitaker was incredibly close to sealing the win with a dazzling round, but missed the mark by just 0.04 seconds to finish second with Equine America Valmy de La Lande (Mylord Carthago*HN x Starter). The third place went to Switzerland's Steve Guerdat and Double Jeu d'Honvault (Kannan x Cook du Midour) with a time of 58.19 seconds.

Of his win, Wathelet said: “I was first to go and knew I didn’t have the fastest horse out there, so I had to take a big risk and take some strides out, and it worked! I won the Rolex Grand Prix here last year, so for me the Royal Windsor Horse Show has always been a great show, in a fantastic place with an amazing crowd.” 

Royal Windsor Horse Show Ambassador, Whitaker, said: “There’s always a great atmosphere here at Royal Windsor, with the crowd giving you such a big cheer when you canter into that arena! Gregory took us all by surprise, but I stuck to my plan, cut corners, and maybe if I had chased that bit harder to the last, I would have won!”