AN ABERGAVENNY man scooped a prize he dreamed of winning as his home-bred Welsh cob stole the show on day three of the Royal Welsh.

Jonathan Batt was delighted to see his hard work pay dividends as broodmare Abergavenny Morning Queen took the coveted George Prince of Wales Cup today.

What was a hobby has become something more than that for the 26-year-old, whose parents John and Beverley started Abergavenny Stud around 35 years ago.

By day the family run their own business in Oakdale, Synergy Plastics, which started around the same time Mr Batt became hooked on showing ponies from the age of 14.

Before today's triumph, he had been to the Royal Welsh with Morning Queen twice before, when the mare already picked up the 1st reserve female champion and reserve champion for the same competition she went one better in this time around.

Enormous amounts of time, money and energy were put into the winning effort, with Mr Batt training his pride and joy from January onwards, but getting her in tip-top condition was worth it, he said.

"The judges are looking for such things as overall confirmation, condition, how it carries itself and so on. We come to the show every year and have been knocking on the door.

The prestige that goes with the cup as a Welsh cob breeder, it's your dream to win it and it is some feat with a home-bred animal," he said.

But after a wash down, Morning Queen will be in search of further glory tomorrow as she competes for the Tom and Sprightly Perpetual Challenge Cup.