Here are a couple of scenarios for the old membership to ponder upon: (i) you suddenly have the funds and purchase an outstanding prospect who furthermore is magnificently bred. Any trainer would be delighted to tutor this steed so who do you ask to train the horse??? and, (ii) you make a much more modest purchase (say 25,000 guineas) who comes from a much humbler family. None of the top trainers would be interested in taking this one in but who do you ask to train the horse from the âlower ranksâ??? My answers to these posers would be: Flat (i) Sir Henry, (ii) Clive Cox NH (i) the forumâs favourite, Mr Henderson, (ii) Tom Symonds
I don't know about NH but If I had a potentially exceptional filly I would send it to Henry Cecil. If it was a colt, either the same or Michael Stoute. In either case I would insist on it having a maximum of one race as a 2yo, late in the season on decent ground with instructions to "look after it". Lightly race as a 3yo and then attack the KG, GV and Arc as 4yos.
Flat: (i) Sir Henry Cecil...(ii) Tim Vaughan Jumps: (i) Philip Hobbs.......(ii) Tim Vaughan (P.S. - Cyc: Yep, Bart would do well, especially over the sticks....).
Sir Henry for a nice filly with a middle distance pedigree Richard Hannon for a cheap 2yo - don't forget the Hannon/Doyle team bought Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin very cheaply. Jumps Alan King - trained by the maestro Nick Williams - bonkers, but lovely bloke and very enthusiastic!
Good Question Sir Barney Sir Henry Cecil James Fanshawe I was not sure where Roger Varien would fall between these two catagories as is no really a big trainer yet not really small either, i do rate him however a very exciting trainer who will one day be a Cecil or Stoute.
Your question raises many further questions Sir Barney as it would really depend upon the horse. For instance an early maturing two year old i would send to Richard Hannon to farm a few good races before the big guns have theirs ready. I well made Filly to Sir Henry for the oaks. A Group three expected stayer to Luca Cumani to win the Ebor handicap with whilst the most difficult is a 100 rated horse in training bought to land a touch, who could get it's mark down quickest and attracting least speculation, Sir Mark Prescott perhaps, David Baron up north D.O'Meara but then ithought it has to be Saed Bin Suroor as he can get a good horse performing under it's potential like no other, although he does seemingly forget the last part and target them at handicaps afterwards as usually they just retire.
Nice thread Sir Barney and I'll just opt for NH trainers if I may: 1. Nicky Henderson, particularly in the horses novice season. The number of novice hurdle winners the yard churns out year after year is incredible and the vast majority hurdle superbly. For me there is no better handler of a novice hurdler in the game. Depending on breeding and stature it would then be a tilt at the top graded hurdle races or off novice chasing. I have had my doubts about whether Henderson handles his chasers as well as his hurdlers but he certainly did a fine job last season with Sprinter Sacre and Riverside Theatre. A win at the Festival would be the icing on the cake. 2. Lucinda Russell. After the tragic events surrounding Brindisi Breeze and Campbell Gillies I would certainly want to support the very likeable and professional Lucinda Russell by placing a horse in her care. She is one of the hardest workers in the game and certainly would get the best out of the horse.
My goodness...so many to choose from but the best trainer in world will do me;..He isn't a serial criminal so can travel with his horses and doesn't lie with £800 a night whores...who knows,if he wasn't Irish he might even have been knighted and had a big gushing groupie on here... Dermot Weld/Sylvester Kirk or Andrew Oliver Nicky Henderson(really nice guy who,as SBC often says,can detect an arrogant fool very quickly)Never heard anyone within the game of any consequence say a bad word against him.Gentleman/Jessica Harrington,good friend of Sir Nicky's who stays with him when at the Festival...Experts in their field and genuinely lovely people. All about opinions!
Decent topic this! 1) Flat - Barney Curley - Imagine the fun! 2) Jumps - Donald McCain - Hugely talented, and is a really likeable guy and has a superb team!
