Underdog mare rules

A small-time rider and breeder set the standard, as top riders and stable jockeys both enjoy success

- DODSON & HORRELL BOLESWORTH

JOSS WILLIAMS and the former event mare Fourfields Darc Maxim headed a high-class line-up to take the Al Shira’aa CSI young horse seven-year-old final.

Having recently collected her Foxhunter ticket at Hickstead, this VDL Douglas mare, who was home-bred by her owner Rachael Heald, continued her brilliant run of form, setting a bar from second draw that was able to deflect some impressive challenges.

The two biggest of these came late in the field, with Ben Maher making a rare appearance in young horse classes to showcase the exciting scope of Point Break, who shares the same owners as his Olympic ride Explosion W – Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. The Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet stallion, a young horse winner at Valkenswaard this year, looked every inch a future superstar as he came within 0.78sec of Joss’s target.

“I’ve had him for the past year and thought I would bring him here to Bolesworth as it’s a big show at a big venue with lots of horses for him to look at. He jumped very well,” Ben said.