Must Watch Moment: Jack Whitaker and Shot Gun Shine in 5* 1.60m Grand Prix Debut

In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, a new star announced himself on the Longines Global Champions Tour stage.

At just nine years old, Shot Gun, ridden by Jack Whitaker, made his 5* 1.60m Grand Prix debut in the electric atmosphere of LGCT Paris 2025, during the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris presented by La Ville de Paris - and what a debut it was. One of only two nine-year-olds in the class, Shot Gun tackled the highly technical first round designed by Gregory Bodo with impressive maturity and scope.

With just one rail down and a time of 73.47 seconds, Whitaker and Shot Gun finished on 4 faults, placing 11th overall, just behind podium veteran McLain Ward and Imperial HBF in 10th, and ahead of world-class combinations like Jérôme Guery and Killer Queen VDM in 12th.

This marked Jack’s first appearance on the Longines Global Champions Tour in 2025, a name well known to fans of the circuit but only now making his return to the Tour this season. Despite the gap, he stepped straight back into top-level competition with poise and promise.

Shot Gun, an eye-catching grey stallion owned by Jack’s father Michael Whitaker, showed all the right ingredients for a future LGCT Grand Prix winner - scope, power, and a cool head under pressure. And at just 23, Jack delivered the ride with a calm confidence beyond his years.

From father to son, from generation to generation, the Whitaker dynasty continues to shape the future of show jumping. And this round in Paris might just be remembered as the beginning of Shot Gun’s 5* story.

Watch Jack Whitaker and Shot Gun’s must-watch round now - a defining moment from one of the sport’s brightest young combinations.

Next stop: London. From the shadow of the Eiffel Tower to the iconic Royal Hospital Chelsea, the Longines Global Champions Tour is your ticket to the world, and this August, heads to the British capital from 8–10 August. Don’t miss your chance to witness the Whitaker legacy continue to unfold on home turf, as Jack and Shot Gun return to the arena in front of a passionate London crowd.