Car winner John Whitaker among weekend's big prize winners

John Whitaker and Keeley Durham's
Argento. Geesteren Grand Prix winners

It was unsual not see four-times Derby winner John Whitaker at Hickstead. He had said a few weeks earlier he did not have a Derby horse and instead was heading to Aalst and Geesteren in Belgium.

It proved a wise move. He headed the Van Twente Om De Grolsch four-star Grand Prix with Keeley Durham's Argento after an 11-horse jump-off. Producing the fastest of three double clears, each of which won an Audi, he beat The Netherlands' Natalie van der Mei (Ultimo) by two seconds.

Edwina Alexander and
Cevo Socrates. By
Steffano Grasso/GCT

Global Champions Tour
Monte Carlo, Monaco, hosted the Global Champions Tour 2011 fifth leg at the weekend.

GCT Director Jan Tops' fiance, Australian rider Edwina Alexander, became the tour's first millionaire, having earned prize money on it since the first show in Wellington, USA, in 2006. A second place in a 1.45m on Cevos Socrates took her over the €1million milestone.

"I was so happy to reach the million mark with Socrates," said Edwina, who will marry Jan in Monte Carlo in Septembr. "He has been such a big part of winning the total amount over the years."

Edwina still head this season's GCT standings, but it was Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengttson who took the €92,000 first prize in the Grand Prix this time.

Rolf-Goran Bengttson and Prince
Albert of Monaco. By Steffano
Grasso/GCT

Riding the stallion Casall la Silla, with whom he won the Hamburg leg's Grand Prix, he produced the only double clear of the class to claim his victory.

"Casall La Silla has always performed brilliantly, be it on the grass at Hamburg or the small course here at Monaco," said Rolf-Goran. "He’s fantastic. In fact, the son of Caretino, he’s been a favourite with breeders. I am overjoyed this evening having not dared to hope for two GCT victories, especially as I am now the proud owner of another Jaeger-Lecoultre watch,” Rolf declares with a big smile.

The showalso hosted an invitational 1.45m Grand Prix and British rider Claire Beecroft won this on Sally.

French and Russian four-stars
Columbia's Rene Lopez had a hard job heading the Fountainbleau, France, Grand Prix with Noblesse de Tess. With 11 through to the jump-off and seven of those going clear again, it was all about the speed. However, Rene finished the class with a huge three second advantage over his closest rival and home rider Timothee Anciaume (Litsam HN).

Vladimir Tuganov won his second Grand Prix in eight day's in Moscow. Last week he headed the three-star class with Carvin, this week, in the four-star competition, his winning partner was Amarok.

A week earlier noboday had gone clear in the jump-off. However, this time, Vladimir produced the sole faultless performance of the competition.

No double clears
The Cantaleu, France, Region Haute Mormandie three-star Grand Prix produced no double clears from the three riders who made the jump-off. However, Frenchman Xavier Vacher (Haram d'Auvers) was the fastest of two clear-and-four-fault rounds to take the win.