HICKSTEAD, England--Last year’s winners Robert Whitaker and Equine America Vermento won the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup for the third time on Sunday, July 26, on the final day of the Agria Royal International Horse Show.
Robert Whitaker on VermentoNot since the great Foxhunter took Harry Llewellyn to a third victory in 1953 has any horse won this title three times, and Robert and Vermento became the first combination in the modern era of the sport to achieve this, winning in 2023, 2025 and now in 2026.
Robert has also equalled his father's tally of wins in this class, with John Whitaker taking the title in 1986 on Ryan’s Son, 1990 on Milton and 1997 on Welham.
Robert's uncle Michael Whitaker has won the class four times, with David Broome holding the record with six wins.
Drawn eighth to go in the first round, Robert produced the first of the five clear rounds with the 13-year-old son of Argento, meaning he had the unenviable first draw in the jump-off.
SETTING OFF round the shortened track, he was clean in 43.34sec to set the pace.
Canada’s Nicole Walker and Panter JVH were the next in, and they finished up on the clock in 42.07sec, but a slip going round the edge of the water altered their rhythm and they knocked down the last fence.
Brazil’s Stephanie Maciera was hoping to become the second woman to win the King George since the class was opened up to both sexes in 2008.
She produced the only other double clear on Novak De Kalvarie, but crossed the tape more than a second slower than Robert to place second.
Jack Whitaker and Jack JL had two down to finish fourth, while Britain’s Nations Cup heroine Jessica Mendoza had to settle for fifth place with Summerhouse.
"To win it three times is incredible, what can I say?" said an emotional Robert afterwards. "I didn't have the best draw, and he jumped off as 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 safe round. To be honest, I thought I was a fraction slow, and when I was clear after the second to last fence, I probably took a bit more time than I should have. But it paid off!"
The two U.S. riders, Kent Farrington on Descartes SR and Lucy David Kennedy on Ben 431, both elected to retire on counrse after having rails down.
