Oxfordshire stud Wendlebury Gate Stables have high hopes for a successful 2009.

It comes after their stallion Silvester produced a foal which was judged champion show jumping foal at a national competition at Addington, near Aylesbury, last yea. Two of his other foals were placed.

Silvester’s Darcy took top honours for the stud – which is run by Hazel Offord – in his class at the BEF Futurity Elite final, while her half-brother Silver Son was placed third.

And Wendlebury Gate also had Capital Prospect placed third in the show jumping yearling competition.

Their success made Silvester one of the most successful stallions in the country in 2008.

This year Wendlebury Gate, who have just been featured on Sky TV, have six mares – Bee, Sienna, DC, Mars, Graym and Pinky – in foal to Silvester and hope to repeat their successes.