Another Charles Has The Magic Touch

Sienna Charles puts in an outstanding frontrunning display, while an eight-year-old Londoner catches the eye.

- Penny Richardson

Pony of the Year Show (POYS), Bury Farm, Bucks

THERE have been some great performances in this show’s history, but this year’s winning round from Sienna Charles, 14, in Saturday’s JA grand prix probably ranks among the best.

This flagship class finished off Saturday's’s gala night and a packed house witnessed Sienna and Magic Cornflakes kill the class from the front of a nine-pony jump-off. Sienna took every short cut and the more she asked, the higher the little Westfalian stallion jumped over Neil Theobald’s up-to-height track.

This put so much pressure on Sienna’s rivals that none could go clear again, although second placed Faye Sutton did look unlucky when Robe Ruadh rolled a pole when chasing the time.

Sienna started competing Magic Cornflakes, a former ride of Germany’s Leonie Böckmann, in May 2016, and has taken things slowly. Their partnership became established over the winter, with second places in the big classes at Addington and Cherwell, but this was their best success to date.

Sienna’s parents, Peter and Tara, have done a fine job in instilling financial acumen. When asked if she would be allowed to keep the £1,500 winner’s prize, Sienna replied: “Once I’ve paid my stabling and entry fees, I might have some left over!”