Bettina's prediction comes true (From Stroud News and Journal)

Bettina's prediction comes true

4:37pm Wednesday 10th May 2006 in Sport By Ashley Loveridge

A DELIGHTED Andrew Hoy revealed that his wife Bettina predicted Moonfleet would win Badminton for him.

Bettina had ridden Moonfleet in competitions from their base at Gatcombe Park, and he said that she told him three weeks ago that Moonfleet would win Badminton for him.

Hoy said: "If I now look at my record I've won Badminton, Burghley and Rolex but unfortunately not in a sequence to win the grand slam, but now I'm two-thirds the way there.

"When you live so close, and I've hunted over this country years ago and to be able to come here and win, it is just magnificent, 1979 was when I first came here and rode and I only got to fence 11 then."

Hoy performed his best ever test thanks to his German wife, who honed the 15- year-old's dressage movements.

"Bettina was sitting in the stands praying I would follow her suggestions, the vibes she had picked up working him," added Hoy.

"As soon as you touch Moonfleet's mouth, he will stop, and I had her voice with me all through my test saying: don't pull against him."

Hoy, the individual silver medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, first competed at Badminton in 1979, was third last year on Master Monarch.