I think I posted a similar thread to this a few years back but trainer’s profiles and abilities change as does correspondents’ perception of them. Plus of course there are continually new additions to the training ranks. So here we go again. Imagine these 2 scenarios:
(1) Somehow or other (we won’t dwell on how!) you acquire a horse with an outstanding pedigree who potentially could be top notch. The animal in question for the Flat is an unraced 2YO who any trainer would be ebullient about having in their barn. The one for the NH game is an unraced 4YO who again would be a boon to any trainer in that sphere. So (i) who would train your animal on the level, and (ii) who would train your horse for the winter game, and
(2) You are at the races one afternoon having a tremendously profitable afternoon (after following my tips, I’m sure) and after securing back to back trifectas are several, and I do mean several, thousand pounds up! A ‘seller’ is next and you are hugely taken by the winning performance. So taken in fact that you buy said beast, at the subsequent auction, for 5,000 gns. The animal for the Flat is 5YO and a 62 rated sprinter and the NH one a 5YO hurdler having only its second run over the sticks. Who would you send this one to will be a much more limited field as, quite frankly, if you called a top handler all that you would hear in response would be the dialling tone. But which trainer do you choose (iii) on the level and (iv) for your hurdler???
My answers would be:
(i) I think there are, currently, a large number of excellent handlers on the level with special mention to old boy Gosden, Sir Michael, the 2 Roger’s (Charlton and Varian), Clive Cox, Mr O’Brien and Dermot Weld. However, my choice would be Roger Charlton. Let’s keep it in the county and he really is a top handler of every sort of horse. You can guarantee he’d eek out every possible ounce from your horse.
(ii) Mr Henderson as the man’s a genius and there is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that his ‘magic hands’ can’t do to improve a horse.
(iii) and (iv) Michael Blake. A small Wiltshire yard that always get the maximum out of their charges. They operate at a lower level but that doesn’t mean a lack of standards or ambition. Are a dual purpose outfit with decent results in both spheres. Are a ‘Saturday horse’ away from making a big breakthrough.
Four questions then. Although in reality I suppose it’s only 3 as surely no-one will answer (ii) with anything other than the remark, ‘Mr Henderson, of course. He’s the forum’s favourite trainer, its idol, its inspiration, its very raison d’etre’.
(1) Somehow or other (we won’t dwell on how!) you acquire a horse with an outstanding pedigree who potentially could be top notch. The animal in question for the Flat is an unraced 2YO who any trainer would be ebullient about having in their barn. The one for the NH game is an unraced 4YO who again would be a boon to any trainer in that sphere. So (i) who would train your animal on the level, and (ii) who would train your horse for the winter game, and
(2) You are at the races one afternoon having a tremendously profitable afternoon (after following my tips, I’m sure) and after securing back to back trifectas are several, and I do mean several, thousand pounds up! A ‘seller’ is next and you are hugely taken by the winning performance. So taken in fact that you buy said beast, at the subsequent auction, for 5,000 gns. The animal for the Flat is 5YO and a 62 rated sprinter and the NH one a 5YO hurdler having only its second run over the sticks. Who would you send this one to will be a much more limited field as, quite frankly, if you called a top handler all that you would hear in response would be the dialling tone. But which trainer do you choose (iii) on the level and (iv) for your hurdler???
My answers would be:
(i) I think there are, currently, a large number of excellent handlers on the level with special mention to old boy Gosden, Sir Michael, the 2 Roger’s (Charlton and Varian), Clive Cox, Mr O’Brien and Dermot Weld. However, my choice would be Roger Charlton. Let’s keep it in the county and he really is a top handler of every sort of horse. You can guarantee he’d eek out every possible ounce from your horse.
(ii) Mr Henderson as the man’s a genius and there is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that his ‘magic hands’ can’t do to improve a horse.
(iii) and (iv) Michael Blake. A small Wiltshire yard that always get the maximum out of their charges. They operate at a lower level but that doesn’t mean a lack of standards or ambition. Are a dual purpose outfit with decent results in both spheres. Are a ‘Saturday horse’ away from making a big breakthrough.
Four questions then. Although in reality I suppose it’s only 3 as surely no-one will answer (ii) with anything other than the remark, ‘Mr Henderson, of course. He’s the forum’s favourite trainer, its idol, its inspiration, its very raison d’etre’.
