CENTRAL

Two young horses made their mark between the white boards in the central region this week.

At just four years old, Claire Ballantyne’s De Niro stallion Dvorak scored an impressive 73.17% in novice 38 at Stourport to top the class in only his second attempt at that level.

Based at Woodlander Stud, the stallion is the first foal out of List

One judge Claire’s inter I mare Fame (by Florestan).

“His mother was lovely to ride and so is he — he has her rideability and his sire’s ambition and carriage,” said Claire. “At that age, you never know how they’ll behave inside the boards, but he went round nicely on the aids.”

Dvorak has been based at Woodlander Stud since he was a foal and was backed by resident rider Carsten Sandrock, who also had a successful day at Stourport, winning both elementaries

— one with 79.83% — riding Woodlander Wild Child.

“I want to train Dvorak as best and as far up the scales as I can — he’s intended to be my next horse,” added Claire. “He also has his first crop of foals due this spring.”

Natalie Tsuchiya headed both novice gold sections at Vale View (15 April), riding her six-year-old

gelding Don King II, by Don Juan De Hus. It was their first show back together after a year.

“I did a young horse qualifier on him at Keysoe last year and he threw me off, breaking my arm badly,” said Natalie, who then passed the ride onto her husband Takeaki for a year while she built up the confidence to take Don King back out again. “He’s matured a lot since then and my plan now is to crack on and qualify for the regionals.”