Ten-year-old Alfie Diaper completed a victory double at the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show on Sunday.
Just 24 hours after the Dorset youngster won the Shetland Pony Grand National at M&S Bank Arena, he was back for more.
This time he had a partner, teaming up with Will Fletcher to land the Glenbrook Property mini major pairs after a thrill-a-minute class that saw winners and runners-up separated by less than two seconds.
Alfie scorched around the track with his pony Euro Magic, and Will, riding Tiger Bright, followed suit, giving them a combined time of 50.11 seconds.
Ireland’s Michael Pender and Saroise O’Neil finished second, while third place was filled by Anthony Condon and Eve McCoy, daughter of former multiple champion National Hunt jockey AP McCoy.
“My dream was to come here and win a rug, and now I’ve done that,” said a delighted Alfie.
And Will paid tribute to his partner, adding: “It was fantastic. It certainly happened very fast, and Alfie did an amazing job. The turns were amazing.
“It took me four years to win a rug here!! It’s fair to say Alfie has done very well.
“The turns were so tight for the pony riders. It was a really high standard, and we obviously had to go as quickly we we could, and it’s brilliant to win here and in front of such a great crowd.”
