AMARNA | SMALL BUT MIGHTY

Bred in Boyanup by Jane Beynon, Amarna, a 2007 Akhenaton-sired gelding, began his racing career in 2012 under Mark Bairstow's guidance. He retired in 2015 after an impressive 63 starts, amassing around $120,000 in earnings, with eight wins and nine top-three finishes. Despite his modest height of 15 hands, Amarna displayed unwavering spirit and a fierce competitive drive.

Jockey Natasha Faithfull, who rode Amarna in several races, fondly remembers him as a "gorgeous, little ripper who gave his all and behaved like a true gentleman on race days."

In 2017, Natalya Dobias, coaching at Capel Pony Club, was drawn to Amarna despite his unassuming appearance. She requested that if the owner, Chrissy Williams, ever considered selling him, Natalya be notified. Shortly after, she acquired Amarna, now known as Manu, a retired racing dynamo. With dedication and guidance from Sophie Warren, they evolved into a impressive eventing pair.

To maintain his peak condition, Natalya employed solo beach workouts to prevent Manu from getting overly competitive when around other horses.

In 2023, Manu and Natalya achieved remarkable results, finishing 7th in the CCNI1* class at Capel CCN and 9th in the CCN1* class at Dryandra CCI. They also showcased their skills in the 2022 and 2021 Equestrian in the Park events, competing in the Diamond Class with confidence.

At 15 years old, Manu continues to excel in his new career. When he retires, he will likely become Natalya's daughter's cherished mount. Until then, the duo plans to relish their time cruising through 1* level eventing.

We eagerly anticipate updates on their 2023/24 endeavours.

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