Kyneton South’s Valmont Clydesdale Stud is home to two reigning champions following superb performances at this year’s Melbourne Royal Show.
Valmont Evoque (‘Evie’) won her Brood Mare class, before going on to win Champion Female Clydesdale three years and over, and finally securing Grand Champion Clydesdale.
Her sire, Valmont Daktari (dec’d), won Champion Stallion at Melbourne Royal a record seven times.
Valmont Excelsior (‘Cruz’) won first in Gelding six years and under and was also named Champion Gelding.
It is the first time Valmont Excelsior has been shown in five years, however, he previously impressed Melbourne Royal judges as a yearling colt when he won his Yearling Colt class and Junior Champion Colt.
“We were really happy with how both had turned out,” said Trudy Cox, Valmont Clydesdale Stud.
“They really stood out on the day – they were glowing. They showed themselves off as best they could. It really was the perfect day for them.”
All horses exhibited under the Cox family name. Trudy’s late father, Colin Cox, exhibited horses at Melbourne Royal for more than 60 years, winning numerous awards in that time. He died in April this year.
“We were very happy to win this year for him,” Trudy said.
The Valmont Clydesdale Stud was formed by Trudy’s grandparents George and Valda Cox in 1936 in Victoria’s Mallee region.
Trudy’s parents, Colin and Tara Cox ‘retired’ from broadacre farming in Berriwillock and moved to Kyneton South in 2019, continuing to breed and show Clydesdale horses.
Trudy, with husband Alex and daughter Zoe, carry on the family legacy.
