When a delicate foal's mother died just a week after giving birth, stud farmers feared the worst.

So fragile was the young filly that it was not expected to survive. But the doubters hadn't reckoned on the dedication of one man - Owen Smith.

For hours day and night he at first tried to wean the foal on bottled milk. When it rejected his efforts, Mr Smith, who runs Oxley Farm Stud in Tiptree, was forced to think again.

He telephoned the National Foaling Bank looking for a surrogate mum, then secured a live television appeal on Channel Four's racing programme for a new mother.

That night a call came from Doncaster and Mr Smith set off on the 450-mile, nine-hour round trip to get his beloved foal a mother, Empress.

And the pair have truly taken to each other - there is never a moment they are apart.

Mr Smith, of St Andrew's Gardens, off Ipswich Road, Colchester, said: "It was so fantastic to see it happening. I couldn't believe it

"I haven't slept for more than 50 hours but it was so worth it. He has named the foal Orphan Annie.

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