Joe Whitaker secured victory in the Dallamires Stables Cup at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), riding Vagalenco GF to a narrow win over his cousin Jack Whitaker. The thrilling competition took place on Friday evening, bringing the third day of the show to a close. With only 0.15 seconds separating the two riders in the jump-off, the result was decided by a remarkably small margin.
Jack finished second aboard D&H Valmy De Le Lande, while Max Routledge and Me The Rebel R.T claimed third place. Of the 26 combinations that started the class, seven progressed to the jump-off, setting up a competitive finish to the evening's showjumping action.
A Close Contest Between The Whitaker Cousins
Joe knew that his performance would need to be quick enough to hold off the riders still to come, particularly Jack, who remained a significant threat in the jump-off. Although Vagalenco GF produced a fast round, Joe was aware that several competitors had the speed to challenge his time.
Reflecting on his performance, Joe explained that his horse had a particularly large stride and made a strong start to the round. However, he felt that he might have used one stride too many when approaching the double on the way home. Despite that concern, his time proved sufficient to secure the Dallamires Stables Cup, with Jack narrowly missing out on the win.
The result provided another successful moment for the Whitaker family at HOYS. Earlier in the day, William Whitaker had won the opening Grandstand Welcome Stakes, adding to the family's achievements during the show's third day.
Vagalenco GF Set For The Leading Showjumper Grand Prix
Victory in the Dallamires Stables Cup also confirmed Joe's plans for Vagalenco GF to compete in Sunday's Leading Showjumper grand prix. The decision had depended on how the horse performed during Friday evening's competition, and the successful round gave Joe the confidence to proceed with those plans.
Vagalenco GF will have Saturday off before returning to competition for the grand prix. Joe reported that the horse had felt easy, comfortable and confident during the class, providing a positive basis for the next stage of their HOYS campaign.
Joe also spoke about the family's long-standing connection with the show, explaining that they had been attending HOYS together for years. He described riding at the event as an important part of their involvement in the sport and said that winning there made the experience particularly rewarding.
Saturday At HOYS: Puissance Takes Centre Stage
The competition continues on Saturday in the Andrews Bowen International Arena, with another full programme of classes scheduled throughout the day and evening. The Rees Family Cup is due to take place at 2.20pm, followed by the Rees Family Accumulator at 5.25pm.
The evening programme will also include the Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry of the Year Championship and The Price Family Supreme In-Hand of the Year Championship. The day's sporting action is scheduled to conclude with the Ripon Select Foods Puissance at 9.10pm.
The Puissance will test the power, precision and nerve of horse and rider combinations as they tackle a wall that increases in height between rounds. It provides the final sporting event in a Saturday programme featuring a variety of competitions at the Horse of the Year Show.
Joe Whitaker's HOYS Dallamires Stables Cup Victory
Joe Whitaker's win aboard Vagalenco GF in the 2026 HOYS Dallamires Stables Cup was secured by a margin of just 0.15 seconds over cousin Jack Whitaker. Following a competitive jump-off involving seven combinations, the victory marked another successful result for the Whitaker family and confirmed Joe's intention to contest Sunday's Leading Showjumper grand prix with Vagalenco GF. With Saturday's competitions still to come, the Horse of the Year Show continues its programme of championship action.
Do write and share your reflections upon this closely contested Dallamires Stables Cup final.
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