1. Who is competing at Pau five-star in October
There is a stellar line-up for Pau Horse Trials, with 20 British riders heading to the French five-star (27-31 October) with at least one horse, including all three members of Britain’s gold medal-winning Tokyo Olympic team. Laura Collett, last year’s winner on London 52, will defend her title on five-star debutant Dacapo. Tom McEwen, who won Pau in 2019 on Toledo De Kerser, has entered five-star first-timer CHF Cooliser. And Oliver Townend will ride five-star debutant Ridire Dorcha as well as the experienced MHS King Joules. Not a bad start list!
2. A Lady Lloyd-Webber-bred yearling colt selling for £1.26m
A colt by Sea The Stars and bred by Lady Lloyd-Webber topped day two of the Book 1 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket with the hammer coming down for 1.2 million guineas (£1.26m). The bay colt was the first in the three-day sale to reach seven-figures. “We never expected to break the million guinea barrier, because no one ever does, maybe Andrew is our lucky omen!” said Lady Lloyd-Webber, as her husband arrived just in time to see the bidding on the horse come to a close.
3. A legendary small hunter retiring on a high… to go hunting
Superstar intermediate and small hunter campaigner Louvaine Rooney has bowed out at the top – winning the small show hunter of the year title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The Cookson family’s home-produced star beat a tough field of 21 to give an overwhelmed Megan Cookson her first HOYS small hunter win. “He has nothing to prove — and he’s been happy in the field for most of the year,” said Megan, a full-time pharmacist who last won at HOYS in 2004 in first riddens. “Rooney will now chill in the field and go hunting with my dad.”
Read about Megan’s emotional win
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