Big Bows & Baby Boys ...
It was an exciting day for Manorvale when our beautiful girl, Manorvale Diamond Diva, took out reserve champion ridden pony at Melbourne Royal on the same day as the first foal sired by Manorvale Royal Show entered the world.
Our Melbourne Royal campaign didn't get off to the smoothest start when "Dixi" was measured up into the 13.2-14hh class, necessitating a last minute rider change.
Lucky for us Bree Petrie was at the show with her riding gear!
Dixi handled the horrible weather at Melbourne like a pro, turning in some beautiful work for Bree to win the open and then stand reserve champion in a line-up that was a who's who of Australia's most decorated show ponies.
Thanks must go to Bree for a job well done, as well Gabby Thompson and Debbielee White for helping to work Dixi in on that freezing morning.
About the same time Dixi was doing laps of the warm-up track at Melbourne, our broodmare Helden Park Fantasia (by Courtland Boy Blue) delivered a lovely bay colt (pictured below).
This little man is the very image of his sire, Manorvale Royal Show, who as we expected is really putting a stamp on his foals.
Royal Boy Soprano coming to Manorvale ...
The other exciting news for Manorvale is the imminent arrival of the highly decorated Riding Pony stallion Royalwood Boy Soprano.
Conditional upon sufficient bookings, Boy Soprano (pictured below) will stand at Manorvale for part of the 2009 stud season, on behalf of the Royalwood Stud.
He is scheduled to arrive in Jerilderie in late November, giving breeders in Victoria and southern NSW a fantastic opportunity to access one of the leading sires in Australia right now.
There will be a limit to the number of mares Boy Soprano can accept during his stay, so mare owners are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
It's a girl!
Our much anticipated foal by Manorvale County Royal out of Kolbeach Questions (by Camargue Tribute UK ) arrived on October 3rd - a very elegant chestnut filly with one long hind sock and a pretty star.
"Lucy" is extremely fine and has her sire's great length of rein.
Thanks to Luke Auld, who took on foal watch duties while I was away at Victorian EFA Horse of the Year.
And speaking of Horse of the Year, Diamond Diva performed very well at Werribee where she was in three way tie for Runner-up Pony of the Year.
After much deliberation between the judges, "Dixie" was eventually placed third, just missing out on a ticket to the EFA Nationals.
Thanks to Bree Petrie, who again took the ride and did a stellar job.
The rest of the team also performed well at HOY.
Anthony Oliver-Watkins' Blandford Waterloo was in the Top 10 in the Rising Star Pony, while Barb and Georgia Kenny's Beauparc Dalliance was a Top 10 in the Show Hunter Galloways.
Thanks to Gabby Thompson, who rode Waterloo, and Mark Kiddle, who partnered Dalliance.
