William Whitaker secured his second victory in the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby on June 21 with Flamboyant III. The win came in a jump-off against 2023 champions David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve. Whitaker had finished second in the event in each of the prior two years.
Whitaker rode the horse owned by William and Vicky Smith to the title at Hickstead. The pair defeated the defending winners in the decisive round after consistent performances across the competition.
Following the win, Whitaker shared an anecdote from his first Derby success in 2016 aboard Glenavadra Brilliant. He recalled waking at Daisy Bunn’s house to find one ear broken off the Boomerang trophy after a celebration the previous evening.
Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn received the damaged trophy with good humor at the time. Commentator John Stokes noted that another party was planned for the evening of the latest victory, with Whitaker joking that the trophy should be kept away from him.
