Horse breeder and owner Kimberley Roberts from Axminster purchased a Thoroughbred Mare four years ago.

She was bred in Ireland as the world-renowned ‘The Coolmore Stud’ , they run a world class breeding program , and the elite of the Thoroughbred.

The mares future was National Hunt and the future for her was the Grand National. Whilst in the early stages of training she sustained a knee injury, the end of her future career, as her breeding was top class her passport was stamped for her to become a Broodmare, after vast expense and the very best in veterinary care she was sold to the UK she changed hands six times , each home trying to bred from her.

Kimberley said: "I saw her advertised and bought her, my thoughts if she doesn’t breed she can be a companion , in any case she deserved a caring home and love.  Her stable name is Suzie and when she arrived I had reservations at what I bought!, she is the most stunning looking mare, however totally neurotic and every stable vice there is , the poor mare had been passed from yard to yard with the hope of a foal, with her breeding and finding the the right stallion it would be like winning the lottery, however everyone before me had the same thoughts."

Suzie became best friends with Bertie a retired dressage horse who also lives with Kimberley, after a while she became calmer.

Kimberley said: "By year three she was a different mare, I had my vet examine her and found she had cancer cells in one of her ovaries, this was removed, leaving her with one, a massive long shot for her to fall pregnant but worth a try.

"I called a stud owner in North Devon whom I’ve know for over 40 years, upon hearing the mare I have he was really excited to have her , he also told me he had a new stallion leased from the Coolmoore Stud, learning who the stallion is I was so excited, “well it’s worth a go.'

"I heard nothing for over two months and was starting to console myself , Suzie will come home as a companion to Bertie. By the 3rd month she received a call. The vet said ‘we have a heart beat’ I burst into tears Wow Wow couldn’t believe what he was saying ‘ could you repeat that I said."

She watched her around the clock month after month and stayed with Bertie up until she was ready to give birth, just before midnight on July 20 Suzie gave birth. 

She added: "I was with her all the time and helped the little guy onto his feet for his first feed, my vet came later and inspected him and gave him and his mum 100% everything was good, Suzie is the most incredible mother, I’ve given the colt a stable name of Bambino Socks. After a few months it was safe for Bertie to reunite with his friend, this year."

Kimberley says that Socks has really bonded with Bertie. From month two, he started going out in the field with his mum he started practicing for his future on the race course.

And the breeding Mum is by the late world-class chaser  Stallion Kayf Tara and Suzies Dam was by Derby-winning Stallion Presenting.

My foals Sire is Sans Frontiers who won the Oaks and the Saint Ledger and his Sire is the late Galileo the only stallion ever to win multiple Derby’s and several group one classic races  making him the most sort after stallion in the world with a stud fee of £750.000.00.

he died two years ago he was valued as the richest stud horse of all time valued at over  £180million. Bambino Socks is registered with Weatherbys  he has a name for his racing career, and in line with top Thoroughbred  Bloodstock he has a Weatherbys  Microchipping.