So Proud

The one victory so far came at Haydock Park in May 2025, and that performance was enough to catch the eye of Jonjo and A J O'Neill, one of Britain's leading training yards based out of Cheltenham. The team bought So Proud at the Goffs sales specifically off the back of that win, which tells you something. Trainers do not spend money at auction on horses that flattered to deceive — they buy ones they believe have a future. This season, the O'Neill yard has sent out 52 winners, so they know a prospect when they see one.

The plan now is to go jumping, sending So Proud over hurdles for the first time. That is a significant step up in complexity — hurdling rewards horses that are athletic, adaptable, and mentally switched on — but the stable's view is that this horse is a stayer in the making. That word "stayer" is key. It means they think So Proud has the engine and the attitude to be competitive over longer distances, where races are won on stamina and grit rather than pure early speed. It is exactly the profile that can develop into something serious over jumps, where the races get bigger and longer as a horse matures. With 52 winners already on the board this season, the O'Neill team is not short of form — and So Proud looks like one they are genuinely excited about bringing through.