Man Williams’ famous person puissance trip Mr Blue Sky UK has a brand new house and new rider – however will nonetheless take at the crimson wall with Man.
Blue, who has gained 9 world puissances with Man together with 4 on the London Global Horse Display whilst owned by way of Caroline and Rupert Phillips, has been purchased by way of Elaine Annis, who instructed H&H she “fell in love with him inside 5 mins”. He’s dwelling with Elaine, and will likely be competed at nationwide degree by way of Charlotte Walker, however will return to Man for puissances, and more than likely a shot on the Hickstead Derby this summer time.
“I at all times assume that with a partnership as ambitious as theirs, why would you exchange it?” Elaine mentioned.
Elaine owns Noctambule Courcelle, referred to as Nigel, who additionally gained the London puissance, in 2012 with Ben Maher, and competed in it with Man in 2014. Nigel remains to be dwelling with Elaine in retirement, and is now Blue’s neighbour.
“My buddy Charlotte was once in Portugal not too long ago they usually took place to be spherical a desk,” Elaine mentioned. “Man requested how Nigel was once and Charlotte mentioned he’s retired but when the proper puissance horse got here alongside, I may like any other one, and he mentioned ‘What about Blue?’
“He mentioned he’d talk to Caroline, then I went to look him. I feel inside 5 mins, I’d fallen in love with him, and mentioned ‘I’m having him’.”
Man mentioned he’s taking a look ahead to including to Blue’s puissance report.
“I’m very thankful to Caroline and Rupert for his or her reinforce for goodbye,” he mentioned.
“However the alternative got here up for Elaine to shop for him, and if the whole thing is going to devise we’ll head to Hickstead too. It’s great to grasp he’s in a an expert house with Elaine, which is what he merits.”
Man Williams driving Mr Blue Sky UK within the Cayenne Puissance
Blue, who’s now 15, competed within the Hickstead Derby with Man in 2022, completing eleventh, and Elaine thinks that having been around the path, he’s going to know what to anticipate this 12 months.
“He’s a puissance specialist, however by no means say by no means!” she mentioned, including that it was once Blue’s nature that she fell in love with.
“As Man has mentioned, he’s spooky and sharp, however he’s were given a center of gold,” she mentioned. “He nuzzles via your wallet, places his best lip up and laughs at you; he’s were given a phenomenal persona, my youngsters can lead him round.
“I feel with puissances, it’s the joys of it. I like Nigel and he were given me hooked on it. They are saying you get one horse of an entire life and I will be able to’t imagine I may well be fortunate sufficient to finally end up with two. It’s pretty.”
Caroline, from Stud UK Euro in Kent, instructed H&H she noticed Blue marketed as a five-year-old, rang the vendor and acquired him.
“I’ve 40 years revel in of breeding and taking a look at younger horses soar which supplies me an eye fixed to look actual ability,” she mentioned.
“The gray horse I had purchased had such a lot soar, all I may see was once the blue sky, and that’s how he were given his identify as he wasn’t named when he came to visit from Europe. The United Kingdom suffix was once added, as you’ll see on different Stud UK Euro horses. Mr Blue Sky UK went directly to be ridden by way of Man Williams, who I’ve had an excellent courting with for 40 years; he beat the most productive on the planet, at Bordeaux on my horse Zaire .
“Mr Blue Sky has been a horse of an entire life for me in profitable such a lot of puissances. We would like Elaine all of the best.”
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Credit score: LIHS / Peter Nixon
Credit score: Getty Pictures
Credit score: LIHS / Peter Nixon
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