THIS is a gorgeous jumper stallion.

[helen in FL]

From my friend Reg Corkum, noted photographer:

I would just like to salute a stallion I have come to admire who is a regular at shows I attend. He is a Thoroughbred stallion shown by Guy Thomas. I know him from shows at Pebble Beach in California.

He is a Derby specialist. The Derby held on Sunday of Week 1 and 2 of the Pebble Beach Classics are highlights of the show. While it is not the height of the course that is the greater challenge, it is a very demanding test in type from banks, water, bounces, stadium and solid fences, course runs over two rings and is usually 30 plus obstacles on the first round. It is a test of endurance, accuracy and finally speed.This is a highly competitive class and over his eight victories, he has defeated over three hundred challengers. He is a speed horse and few can follow if he has a clean jumpoff ride.

Playboy is noteably a star in this series, with the amazing feat of having won eight of these Derbys including the last six in a row, including a very tough challenge in week one with 69 entries in the class. Guy Thomas his regular rider is certainly no stranger to the west coast circuit either, and before him his mom Lou Thomas also made a pretty impressive name for herself in hunter circles.

At any rate, I just wanted to brag a little about having known this combination for a couple of seasons and I am definitely a fan to see them perform. I will try to link a photo of him in his jumpoff winning ride at this year's Derby which I took while working to help cover the show for Deb Dawson.

I hope others will follow with their little honorariums to stallions they have admired.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee73 ... 922AAA.jpg