Golden result for Pussy Galore

Home-breds reign for their breeders while the next generation of major championship victors make their marks in ridden ranks

- ALEX ROBINSON

A WELSH section C filly gave her connections the shock of their lives when she captured the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Price Family in-hand supreme championship.

Local breeders Kellie and Scott Gibbons’ home-bred three-year-old Glynwyn Pussy Galore flew around the Great Yorkshire’s iconic main ring as if on springs, captivating the audience, and most importantly, supreme judge Penny Clifford.

“Every time I looked over at her, she was winning points; she had her ears forward, was standing well and kept her cool in the buzzy arena,” Penny said. “She was typey, really moved and she screamed ‘pony’ at me.”

By Blaencila Bonheddwr, the filly is out of the Gibbons’ top show mare Glynwyn Vespa, also the dam of their Glynwyn Annie Power, who qualified for the same in-hand final at last year’s Royal Welsh.

“We are indebted to Vespa; she is one hell of a mare,” said Scott. “We never expected this result from a three-year-old filly, but she’s one hell of a mover so I knew she’d light up going down the grandstand.”

Sarah Milnes’ home-bred filly Mylens Limited Edition (Darcey) mirrored the results her dam, Native Star (Nancy), achieved during her youth by taking the Max Abram trophy for the best in-hand hunter in show. Handler Steven Lemon was in perfect step with the eye-catching Namche Bazaar daughter, also a three-year-old, who then finished reserve in the Price Family reckoning.