‘She walked in as if it was her right’
At 17 years old, broodmare Broadstone Dolce Vita gives an injured Billy Moran his first Cuddy winner
IF ever a horse “owned” a ring, it was Pearl Underwood and Billy Moran’s broodmare Broadstone Dolce Vita (Dee) in the Cuddy supreme in-hand final. From the moment she strode to victory in the horse section, looking fresh as a daisy with her exuberant Tiger Attack foal at foot, the Broadstone Demonstrator 17-year-old oozed presence to captivate judges Pat Stirling and Beverley Daffurn.
Later, under the evening spotlights, there was no denying Dee as she grew in stature, maintained a perfect rhythm and outline, and again displayed her powerful walk and trademark elevated trot.
“This mare came into the ring looking as though she was there to win,” said Pat.
For Billy, fifth here with Dee in 2015, it was an emotional moment. After 25 years of breeding, this was his first
Cuddy winner — and first ever appearance in the main arena.
“In her section I was excited but not nervous,” said Billy. “But in the evening, it was a different story. When that curtain parted, it was an eye-opener for me but she just walked in as if she knew it was her right. I wanted it so badly for her and when her name was called out, I was really choked.”
Billy was also battling a flareup of a serious muscular injury.
“My leg was so tightly strapped up, it was a miracle I could run at all,” he admitted. “But in situations like this, you don’t feel the pain.”
The triumph was special for Pearl’s daughter Amy too, who successfully campaigned Dee under saddle as a riding horse, standing second here in 2011 and third in 2013 when the mare was carrying her first foal.
“Dee is the ultimate show horse,” said Amy, whose family met Billy by chance while on a horse-buying trip. “Billy told us he’d always admired Dee after seeing our picture in H&H, and asked if he could have her as a broodmare when she retired.”
This term, Dee took titles at Hambleton — where she was overall supreme — Midland Counties and NPS summer championships, before landing the £1,000 Martin Wood supreme at the BSHA national championships for the second year running.
A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
RESERVE went to the top pony, Iain Almond and Caroline Cochrane’s three-year-old hunter type Litton Salvador, co-produced by Diane Henning and Ian Boylan. This was another team celebrating their first ever Cuddy win.
“This is a high-quality animal,” said Beverley Daffurn. “He is correct, has great limbs, was well turned out and shown beautifully.”
The son of Pickmere Sirocco was bought as a yearling. His season has included the British Isles supreme at the NPS Spring Festival, a feat he repeated at the summer championships.
“He’s very level-headed and super easy to work with,” said Ian. “It just goes to show that no matter how small your team is, if you work hard and have good support, you can achieve wonders.”