A Future Illusion foal, whose dam was bought from a one-line advert in the free ads for £1,000, was the highest graded horse of the day at the BEF Futurity Evaluation at Tall Trees in Cornwall.

Uptown Girl, named so because of her "model looks", scored an elite grade of 9.14 in front of judges Lynne Crowden, Judith Davis, Bridget Parker and Jo Claridge, and stood champion of the eventing section and overall top scorer.

"She's the nicest foal I've ever bred," said owner Sue Hicks, who runs a dairy farm and Pengelly Farm Cottages near Truro with her husband Paul. The hobby breeder entered the Futurity series for the first time on advice from stallion owner, Julia Hodgkin of Future Sport Horses, who saw a video of the foal.

"Her dam (Heraldik Girl W) was imported for lots of money and then found turned out in a field. The new owner became afraid of her and advertised her," explained Sue, who bought the mare two years ago with a view to breeding from her.

"She is very well bred," added Sue who did her research – the mare is by the reknowned stallion Heraldik, sire of Butts Leon (second Badminton 2010) and Butts Abraxxas – both winners of a Gold Olympic medal in Bejing 2008; as well as Happy Times, third at Badminton 2009 and winner of The World FEI Cup 2010. Heraldik was named number 1 in 2009 as the leading sire of eventers in The World League Federation Table.

"The dam herself showed her ability in just one season with Adam Ellery, qualifying for both second rounds of British Novice and Discovery," added Sue who plans to bring the seven-year-old back showjumping next season.

The filly's sire, Future llusion, is a young Fleetwater Opposition stallion, who is already showing his ability under Jeanette Brakewell on the eventing circuit. "Uptown Girl is bred for eventing and it's lovely to have confirmation from the Futurity evaluators that she has the potential. I have to thank Chantal Avery de Rooy and Jo Solomon for showing the dam and her foal on the day as I couldn't due to a frozen shoulder," added Sue who sees the foal qualified for the championships. The top-scoring eventers of 2010 go forward to Osberton during the Lycetts British Eventing Young Horse Championships.

Sally Davey, from Redruth, saw her two-year-old Renkum Valentino gelding May Be Valentine claim the second highest elite score of the day (9.09), head his eventing section and also qualify for the championships.

"I've been planning to bring Oscar (May Be Valentine) to a Futurity evaluation since a foal but just never got here," said a delighted Sally, who was also contesting her first Futurity.

"He's the first foal I've ever bred and it's nice to get the confirmation that you are doing something right," added Sally who imported Oscar's dam, Velea, from Holland for her daughter Katie to ride.

"She damaged her leg and I decided to do what everyone says don't do – breed from her, and I'm glad we have!" she said.

The KWPN mare's grandsire is Lux Z – one of the most successful stallions in international showjumping. "The plan is for Katie to event Oscar – he's very quick to learn and very sociable," added Sue who also saw her yearling showjumping prospect, Forest Dolly Dormouse, out of Velea and by Chantal Avery de Rooy's stallion, Enzo du Forest, earn a high premium score (8.72) and head the showjumping section across all ages. "Sadly she's for sale – it will break my heart to sell her but she needs someone who can take her to the top."

Elite scores also went to Georgia Stokes' palomino filly foal, SOS What Apricot Wants (9.07) – by top sports pony stallion, SOS Kantje's Unicolour – who stood overall dressage champion; Sheri Tozer-Robb's filly foal, Falinaire R (9.01) out of the Dutch mare Rilinaire by Don Primaire, who stood reserve champion dressage and owner breeder Claire Deithrick's three-year-old gelding, Smile All Over (9.01) by Sir Donnerhall who headed his dressage division.

For full results visit www.bef.co.uk