Kinvara Garner wins the Shetland Pony Grand National

Posted: 4th October 2016

Congratulations to Kinvara Garner in Year 9, who is becoming something of a celebrity in the junior equestrian world.

On her Shetland pony Smokey Joe, 14-year-old Kinvara stormed home in first place at Newmarket Racecourse last Friday, riding in the blue and white silks of HH Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum – the Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

Kinvara, who is sponsored by Shadwell Stud, won by a clear head in a tight finish on the Rowley Mile against 9-year-old Zac Kent on Ulverscroft Midnight Blue racing to raise money for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust. She has been described as a ‘jockey of the future’ by Channel 4 Racing presenters Alastair Down and Derek Thompson. It was her first time riding at Newmarket but Kinvara coped admirably with the pressure – and even sparkled in a televised interview with Channel 4 Racing, alongside former Grand National winner Bob Champion.

Kinvara has also qualified for five different events in the London Horse Show at Olympia and has been nominated for the Kelleythorpe Junior Show Rider of the Year.

Categories: Achievement