Triple Olympian sets hopes on prize mare

Triple Olympic Games equestrian Matt Williams realises his dream of owning a horse produced in Australia that he can showcase on the world stage.

Strong ambition: Matt Williams, on Valinski S at Rio Olympics 2016, hopes to enter Coachella into the world arena. Picture: Getty Images

AUSTRALIAN triple Olympian Matt Williams realised a life goal when he recently bought the well-performed Coachella from Jess and Rod Brown of Kulnara, NSW.

Williams had been looking, with his employers Team O Equestre from Mexico, for a potential Olympic and World Equestrian Games mount when he saw the eight-year-old mare jumping at the Royal Melbourne Show last year.

Bought by Jess, Rod and Cathy Brown and Milli Woods from the Gilbert Bockmann stable in Germany in 2017 and campaigned in Australia by Jess, Coachella has proven to be top class.

“It has always been a dream of mine to have a horse that had been produced in Australia and showcase it on the world stage, Williams said.

“Jess has done a beautiful job with her and the Browns have kept her ticking over for me while we waited for the Covid flying bans to be lifted.”

Williams is a professional rider and trainer based about 45 minutes from Mexico City and had hoped to aim the mare at the 2022 WEG.

However, with the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo games, Coachella will now be old enough in 2021 to be considered for a team.

“She is one of the best horses I have ever sat on so I am looking forward to a long partnership. I plan to aim her mainly at championships.” Williams added.

Coachella sets off on Monday with International Racehorse Transport to fly around the world before landing in Chicago. After a few days rest she will then travel by road to her destination in Mexico.

Interestingly she will be accompanied on the plane by another Australian bred horse also destined for great things in America.

Wild Thing, an eight-year-old bred and produced by Victorian Seumas Marwood, is making the journey to Florida to join the stable of dual Olympian Australian Scott Keach.

Wild Thing is sired by Caracas, another Australian produced horse now competing successfully in Europe.

FEI shows are expected to begin in America in the next few weeks after the COVID-19 lockdown ends — great timing for the two Australian horses.

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