Full-sister to Ben Maher’s Tripple X III born at Quainton Stud

A full-sister to Ben Maher’s superstar stallion Tripple X III has been born.

The foal was born by surrogacy at Quainton Stud on 30 May.

The filly by Namelus R out of Calve Z (by Cantango Z) has been nicknamed Betty, after The Queen, whose Diamond Jubilee celebrations were going on while she was born.

“We’re very excited to have a filly,” said Emma Phillips from Quainton Stud, who jointly owns the foal with Ben. “We hope she’ll grow up to be good for breeding as well as competition. She’s very sweet.”

And a second full-sister or brother to Tripple X is due this week.

“I haven’t been to see her at Quainton yet but hopefully when the second one’s been born I’ll have time to visit them both,” Ben told H&H.

“She’s doing fine now – she was a bit small when she’s born but apparently lots of embryo transfer foals are and she’s had a massive growth spurt since and is very straight, very correct.

“I’m hoping the other one will be a colt but we’ll see. She still hasn’t got a proper name but we’re trying to think of something fun. Somebody on facebook said her face marking looked like an angel with wings over her head, so something along those lines is a possibility, but we might run a competition so people can come up with ideas.”

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.