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‘She’s gorgeous’: top British rider eyes World Championships with exciting new ride

Becky Murray Becky Murray

    • Paralympic medallist Sophie Wells has a new exciting ride, as she aims for selection for this summer’s World Championships with two horses.

    Grade V rider Sophie has taken on Emma Blundell’s MSJ Gold Standard. The nine-year-old Governer x Furstenball mare, known as Gracie, has been produced to advanced medium by Holly and Amy Woodhead.

    “She’s done a few demos at Burghley and Bramham and things in big atmospheres and she’s really good with that, so I’m hoping she can come out at the internationals this year and we can see how far we can go,” Sophie told H&H.

    “She was for sale last year and I went to try her but we weren’t in a position to be able to buy. I said to Emma I’d love the opportunity to campaign her and to let me know if circumstances change, then I got a message before Christmas.

    “I’ve only had her a few weeks, but it’s started really well, so hopefully that continues. She’s beautiful, she’s a chestnut mare, she loves her food, she’s gorgeous.”

    First outing for Sophie Wells with new ride

    Sophie and Grace had their first outing at Vale View on 1 February, scoring 72.56% in a grade V grand prix A test.

    “It was lovely. Obviously there were a few miscommunications because we don’t know each other that well yet, but the feeling in the arena was really positive. I could really ride her forward and she just went in and did her job, which was amazing to feel, so it’s really exciting,” said Sophie.

    “The World Championships would be the big goal. It’s very early days, we need to go out and do some more and see what the judges think, but I really like the feeling she gave me at Vale View.”

    Sophie said her Paris medallist, the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham’s 10-year-old mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana), is doing well and will also be aimed at the World Championships. Diana had some down time last autumn, but has returned to competition.

    “Diana did the Arena UK high profile in December. We’ll do regionals and then crack on with the para winter championships and some internationals from there, so fingers crossed,” said Sophie.

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    Becky Murray
    Becky Murray

    H&H senior news writer
    Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
    Becky Murray

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