DARTMOOR ponies are not often thought of as ‘go fast’ models to go racing — yet this season, a moorland-bred Dartmoor pony has taken his young jockey safely round a course.

And two young Dartmoor cross thoroughbreds have also been successful on the Westcountry pony racing circuit.

Walter Fisher Barnett, 12, has been racing Wide Valley Superman, progeny of a Dartmoor mare and Wide Valley Rainbow, a thoroughbred son of Rainbow Quest, who won racing’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

Superman, 130cm high and five years old, came third at Flete on April 16 and has gained speed, stamina and experience ever since, winning over six furlongs at Flete on April 30.

Wide Valley Batman is fathered by the same stallion as Superman but another Dartmoor mare is his mother. At 140cm high, Batman competes against the mini thoroughbreds in the class for bigger racing ponies.

Walter’s sister Ruby, 10, who also races March, has done much of the basic training and fitness development for all the ponies. Batman is now teaching his younger brothers Robin and Spiderman for Newmarket pony racing training.

In between pony club activities and cross country events, March is showing the way to Supergirl, just three.

All three youngsters are fathered by Wide Valley Rainbow with Dartmoor mares belonging to Amanda Fisher Barnett, mum to Walter and Ruby.

Amanda said: ‘March, our first racing pony, was born in the moor at Rippon Tor. He has taken Walter and Ruby through two successful seasons of pony racing and enabled both children to pass their stages at Newmarket’s British Racing School. But March still comes into the kitchen to join us in the house!’

A spokesperson for the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust said: ‘The Trust promotes the traditional Dartmoor pony in every way it can, encouraging people to choose them for conservation grazing as well as multi-discipline family ponies. Increasingly, the benefits of crossing a Dartmoor with bigger ponies or horses is appreciated. The offspring ensures a larger pony suitable for all purposes with the hardy, gentle nature of this popular native breed.’