Peaky Blinder steps up in style

From debut wins to emotional salutes, this week delivers rising stars, loyal partnerships and eye-catching comebacks

- By ANDREA OAKES

Solihull EC, West Mids

“MAYBE he needed a gallop,” laughed Louise Bell, who scored a 70%-plus prix st georges win with Peaky Blinder II after taking him showing a fortnight ago. “I don’t know what clicked in the show ring, but something did.

“He’s never had trouble doing anything, as he’s so clever and trainable, but he was missing that little bit of ‘taking me,’” added Louise, who put her home-bred mare Working Girl to legendary stallion Uthopia to breed “Duggy”.

“He’s putting on his big-boy trousers at this level. It’s all about giving him an all-round education and taking our time. He’s an absolute superstar – I don’t want to rush him just because I can.”

Fiona Newall claimed inter I straight and freestyle wins with Fendy VCG, the mare she has owned for more than a decade and brought up from novice.

“We enter the freestyle to You’re My Best Friend by Queen, as a nod to our partnership,” said Fiona, who credits Kate Cowell, her trainer of 14 years, for guiding her journey with the Don Schufro mare. “Fendy and I know each other so well. It’s like we’ve been together forever.

“She is a mare and she has opinions, but we get on well,” Fiona added. “She really lights up in competition. I’d ridden up to medium level before with previous horses but never got anywhere with the flying changes, so learning those with Fendy was a big deal for me.”

“EXCITING SCORES”