Promise from Provocateur
FORMER HOYS in-hand finalist Kellythorpes Provocateur (Binky) impressed in her new career as a working hunter pony, picking up the Winter Worker Stakes championship with her new pilot Charlotte Tuck.
The Kilvington Scoundrel eight-year-old was previously shown as an intermediate and small hack by Phoebe Price and only joined Charlotte and Team Hillyard eight weeks ago, having never jumped before.
“She seems to love the jumping job,” said Charlotte’s mother Lindsey Hillyard of the 15hh campaigner, who was making her second competitive working hunter appearance. “Charlotte is so passionate about workers. They’ll do some flat classes this year alongside working hunters.”
Phoebe Price enjoyed her own moment at the top of the line on her mother Joanne’s six-year-old intermediate St Giles Devole (Dev) who captured novice, restricted and open intermediate accolades.
“He’s one of the sweetest, easiest horses I’ve ever worked with,” said producer Scott Dixon, who is newly based with the Price family and their horses. “We’ve been working on getting his fitness up ready for the season ahead. Phoebe will be riding him in amateur hack classes this year, too, aiming for Windsor in May. He went amazingly well today.”
Home-producer Molly Mercer steered her Welsh section D gelding Cwmtynant Cardiganbay (Alfred) to open/restricted Heritage M&M working hunter pony glory, after clinching both M&M Heritage young rider and novice titles on the flat the previous day.
Alfred, 10, was bought at the end of 2018 and after a flying partnership together, including many victories at the BSPS championships, Molly aspires to contend the HOYS working hunter pony circuit this year. Despite their success over fences, this was the first time they’ve attempted flat classes.
“I can’t believe how well he did; we’ll do some more on the flat in the future,” said Molly.