Speller takes the spotlight

A stable jockey to the Breens emerges with a championship double, while the boss adds to the yard haul

- SARAH RADFORD

THE BREEN team were in prominent form at these championships, with yard rider Katie Speller emerging from the wings to claim both the winter national 1.35m and five-year-old finals.

Katie piloted relatively new ride Cindy Z to victory in the big class, beating Jess Hewitt and Kann Be Lucky to the £2,000-win by 0.39sec, while Geoff Billington trailed just 0.18sec behind with his stallion Just Special.

“She arrived at the end of last year and I’ve done a couple of shows with her,” said Katie, who has been working for Shane Breen for the past four years. “She’s a nice easy mare who feels like she could jump a house. She makes you feel confident and like you could take on anything.”

The pair had a slightly shaky start to the week, having one down in their first class and two in their next, but it all took shape in time for the championship.

“Shane suggested a different bit and then Michael Quirke helped me in the warm-up and stopped me over-complicating anything,” Katie said.

“I didn’t watch anyone go but Shane was third to go on one of his, and watched some of them jump. He told me I needed to keep pushing round the corners.

“I was supposed to do six on the final line – a dog-leg from a plank to an oxer – but I jumped the plank and saw five, so I went for it. She’d be an easy horse to take strides out on.”

Katie carried her form into the winter five-year-old final, partnering Z7 Pink Panther, who she rode for the first time shortly before the show.