'She's back on top form'

A grand prix prospect beats her nerves and an ex-racehorse finds his dancing shoes

- ANDREA OAKES

HANOVERIAN mare Ruby Tuesday V kept her red-headed temperament in check to score wins at both prix st georges and inter I.

“She can be tense and tricky, training-wise, and when she doesn’t understand something the chestnut mare comes out,” said her owner/rider AmandaJane Robb, explaining that recent changes to Ruby’s management have transformed her performance.

“We’ve spent a lot of time hacking and getting the nutrition right and she now lives out pretty much all the time. She’s back on top form.”

Amanda, who trains with Beth Bainbridge, believes that the nine-year-old Rubin Royal daughter has the potential to go to grand prix.

“We’re taking things slowly, with her temperament, but we’re looking to introduce piaffe and passage,” she said.

“I rode at inter II around 10 years ago, but getting my brain engaged with this is a new challenge.”

Jen Morris headed the bronze sections of both classes with 13-year-old Gribaldi gelding Faribaldi. A bit of an unknown quantity when Jen bought him three years ago, “Turnip” has since progressed smoothly through the levels from elementary.

“I found him strong at first, but he’s just so happy to please,” she said. “He gets quite excited when he does things right – and so do I.

“I’m desperate to get to grand prix,” added Jen. “My brilliant trainer Alice Peternell says I now need to stop riding so tamely and ask for a bit more oomph and flamboyance. It feels like we’re on a really exciting journey.”