A YOUNG colt proved his Magic Touch is a winning touch as Charlotte Young’s Doura Magic Touch continued his winning ways from the winter foal show circuit to secure the prestigious Cawdor Cup and supreme championship at the National Stallion Show, last week. 

With a change of date due to the extreme winter weather the previous week which would have caused chaos in the car and lorry parks, there was a lesser entry forward at the show’s new venue, Morris Equestrian Centre, near Fenwick, in Ayrshire

Having stood to the fore of the senior yearling colt class, the Glebeview Sir Charles son first claimed the Cawdor Cup before the male championship and supreme honours. He in fact marks a successful National Stallion Show career for Charlotte, and her father Jim, who have won the title in the region of 25 times when taking in to account Jim’s father, John, with wins dating back to the 1960s. Bred across the water in Ireland by Victor Mullen, who has bred champions here before, Magic Touch is out of Ballinrees Lady Jayne and remains unbeaten. 

“He’s got great bone, good silky hair and was on the best form on the day,” said one of the judges of the male section, Mrs Yvonne Hanna, of the Macfin stud in Northern Ireland. 

The female champion stepped forward in to the reserve supreme spot for Jim and Linzi Kennedy. Their Hillhouse Zara, a seven-year-old by Collessie Cut Above and out of Hillhouse Millie, is another with a strong show career behind her, having stood reserve supreme at the Winter Fair, last year, and has lifted numerous championships on the husband and wife duo’s local circuit. 

Regular exhibitors, Ronnie and Pete Black, had to settle with the reserve Cawdor Cup and reserve male honours with their Collessie Consort. This two-year-old colt by Arradoul Balvenie, the sire behind a lot of winners on the foal show circuit, is out of Collessie Robyn and has rarely been out the tickets when shown by the father and son team. 

There was more to celebrate for the Young team, who had a total of eight entries forward and were helped by Kevin Wilson and John Graham, when they landed the reserve female title with Clerkington Cassandra. Bought in October and first in her class at the Winter Fair on her only other outing, this three-year-old Doura Kingmaker daughter is out of Garleton Katie. 

LEADING awards:

Geldings (Judge: A Craig, Arranview, Belston Holdings, Coylton). Senior – 1 and gelding champion, A Noble’s Peggyslea Andrew; 2 and reserve gelding, JW and M McIntyre’s Ozarks Royal; 3, D Walker and B Brown’s Bratlach Corrog Clyde. 

Females (Judges: J Greenhill, Upper Tulloes, Forfar, and A King, Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, Cotebrook, Cheshire). Mare – 1, female champion, reserve supreme, best female bred by exhibitor, J and L Kennedy’s Hillhouse Zara; 2, G and A Robertson’s Shewalton Heather Mist; 3, A McLean’s Lochcote Amazing Grace. Three-year-old filly – 1 and reserve female, C Young’s Clerkington Cassandra; 2, G Gray’s Fawnspark Sarah. Two-year-old filly – 1, E Johnstone’s Ord Tinkerbell; 2, C Young’s Glebeview Lady Izzy; 3 and best turned out, D McGill’s Caperhill Cleo. Senior yearling filly (born before April 30, 2017) – 1, C Young’s Doura Margarita; 2, P and M Bedford’s Windyknowe Margaret May; 3, C Hodge’s Stanleyfields Florence Nightingale. Junior yearling filly (born on or after May 1, 2017) – 1, best yearling filly, best two-year-old and under filly, Mrs M Stewart and R Barr’s Fairhavens Queen of Hearts; 2, G Gray’s Fawnspark Alexa; 3, CW Carrick’s Littleward Meghan. 

Males (Judges: Mrs Y Hanna, Glenstall Road, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, and J Ingram, Sunnyside Avenue, Drumoak, Banchory). Senior stallion – 1, C Young’s Doura Master Eddie; 2, A Cockburn’s Tillside Topsman. Four-year-old stallion – 1, C Young’s Doura Aird Ambition; 2, A Steel and Son’s Jackton’s Kilbride; 2, JW and M McIntyre’s Whinhill Majestic. Three-year-old stallion – 1, best stallion three-year-old and upwards, J Adamson’s Glenside Hallmark; 2, DA Hill’s West Mill Lodestone; 3, Tait Family’s Bandirran Elvis. Two-year-old colt – 1, best stallion two-year-old and upwards, reserve male, reserve Cawdor Cup, RH Black’s Collessie Consort; 2, W Dunbar’s Fawnspark Ambassador; 3, C Young’s Doura King of the Ring. Senior yearling colt – 1, male champion, Cawdor Cup champion, supreme champion, C Young’s Doura Magic Touch; 2, J Anderson’s Redcastle Francois. Junior yearling colt – 1, P and M Bedford’s Thorpe Hill Monarch; 2, S Greenhill’s Fordelhill Fascination; 3, K Wilson’s Blueton Prince George. 

Young handlers (Judge: A Craig). 1 and champion, Alistair Murray.