Teenage Whitaker continues family tradition

Robert Whitaker returned from Hungary, where he formed part of the winning team in the Junior European Championships, to achieve a memorable four victories on the opening day of the Traxdata Derby Meeting yesterday.

Robert Whitaker returned from Hungary, where he formed part of the winning team in the Junior European Championships, to achieve a memorable four victories on the opening day of the Traxdata Derby Meeting yesterday.

The 17-year-old son of John Whitaker defeated an international field on Virtual Village Gucci, a Dutch-bred mare who was competing in her first international contest when she won the Traxdata Chase by a commanding margin of almost six seconds. Whitaker's four-timer also included the British Young Rider's Championship which he won on another mare, Think Twice.

Robert Whitaker's enthusiasm matches the talent that he has clearly inherited. "He's determined and very positive, he wants to succeed," said his father, John.

Robert will be riding Gucci in today's Derby Trial and, if all goes well, he would like to partner the mare in the Derby proper on Sunday. Riding in this annual classic has been a long-time ambition, but he is not interested in merely participating. "I don't want to go in it unless I have a chance of winning," he said.

Geir Gulliksen, who won yesterday's Derby Tankard on Calido, had left his Hickstead horses at Whitaker's yard (where both John and Robert kept them exercised) while he made a short visit back home to Norway following the Dublin Horse Show.

Gulliksen agreed that he was lucky to be the final act in the four-horse jump-off, since he knew that a slow clear round was all that was required to defeat Nick Skelton on Showtime and John Whitaker on Steps Helsinki, after both had made a single error.

"Calido is not particularly fast and this was my first international win with him," the Norwegian said. Gulliksen will be among the favourites on Sunday when he rides A-Dur, the horse he partnered into third place in the Falsterbo Derby in Sweden.

Skelton and Whitaker again filled second and third places in the contest for the Studbook Zangersheide Salver, which was won by Sweden's Jens Fredricson on RS Isac, having been judged on faults and time in the opening round.

Whitaker was riding the sprightly 20-year-old Virtual Village Welham, who will be one of his mounts in the Derby if he shows good form in today's Trial.