William Whitaker claimed his second The Al Shira’aa Derby victory at Hickstead yesterday (21 June) with a long-awaited win on Flamboyant III.
Only two of the 30 combinations jumped clear, William and another former winner, Ireland’s David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve who took the title in 2023.
Ten years ago William won the Derby with Glenavadra Brilliant, and this time he returned with Flamboyant III. William and the 16-year-old had been runner up for the past two years, so were keen to finally take the top spot.
“On the way to the ring I had about ten different Whitakers giving me information and telling me what the plan was, and each of them said something different!” he joked afterwards.
“I knew Dave’s horse was naturally quicker than mine, so I thought if I had one down early on, then I’d just throw caution to the wind.”
But after missing out in the jump-offs in both 2024 and 2025, this time the pair left all the fences standing to take the title.
“He’s come so close for the past few years, and he really deserved to win a Derby,” William said.
William picked up the ride on Flamboyant III in 2022, when usual rider Elliott Smith broke his leg in a fall after crossing the finish line in the Derby Trial.
Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn suggested William Whitaker took over the ride that year, and the pair went on to finish sixth in the Derby, and they secured another top 10 finish the following year.
The horse spends most of the year with the Smith family, before returning to William for the Derby.
“So much preparation goes into it, and that’s not just from me, I only have him part of the year – Elliott Smith and his family do so much work with him behind the scenes,” William added. “So to get it done after coming so close the last few years is definitely a relief.”
David was disappointed not to secure his second Derby title, but he gave credit to his horse for jumping two super rounds.
“Pjotr loves it here at Hickstead, and I was delighted with how he was today,” he said. “His next target is to come back here in July for the Nations Cup and the Grand Prix.
“That’s the good thing about him, he can do Derbies, he can do five-star Grands Prix. I’m very lucky to have him.”
Sammie-Jo Coffin was the leading female rider, finishing joint third with four faults on the consistent Derby performer Chaccomo Blue.
Ireland’s Stephan Dubsky and C The Stars knocked down the final fence to finish joint third with Sammie-Jo.
Six riders finished on eight faults apiece, including Guy Williams, Shane Breen, Jessica Hewitt and Geoff Curran, along with event riders Gemma Stevens and Alexander Bragg.
Lead image: William Whitaker and Flamboyant. Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
