I've just watched the Trainer Files on Tim Vaughan on Racing UK - link. I was immensely impressed with the way he came across. He seemed a man of confidence and modesty, with a fierce ambition and an excellent eye for detail. He has already proven himself a trainer of the highest order and as he seeks to establish himself amongst the big names he is certainly one to follow. He was happy to say that he wanted to be Champion Trainer one day, and given his phenomenal progress i wouldn't bet against it.
Very capable trainer who places his horses to good effect. I'm just not sure who his major owners are - he may possibly lack the firepower of Nicholls or Henderson?
I agree completely. He has only been training 4 years and was a full time chartered surveyor until 2008! He is making rapid progress and his ambition is almost frightening. I am sure that he will start to receive the big money support in due course. Edit: He has at least one horse owned by McManus.
Dunno rounders - look at some of the rubbish he has placed with Jonjo. And if he wants to be champion trainer one day he will need strength in depth, I'm talking about owners who invest in real quality horses who are going to be winning grade 1s - the Andy Stewarts and David Johnsons of this world for example.
Well I'd agree with the fact that he doesn't seem to buy the best horses but i don't think it's through lack of trying/investment. I'd say if he had the same bloodstock agent as Stewart or the Ricci family and maintained his current investment levels year on year he'd have a couple of superb horses on his hands. As it is he seems to concentrate on sending his horses to Jonjo who frankly is not as good a trainer as Nicholls or Mullins. He famously was going to buy Kauto but spent the money on Wichita Lineman instead. Great bit of advice that was. Findlay's mum owns Beshabar.
I think the horse was Garde Champetre Rounders. There was a bidding battle between Smith and McManus. McManus won and Smith bought Kauto Star (for much less money) instead. I think we all know who got the better deal!
I think he needs to show some of his quality for the big owners to give him some horses! With the likes of Nicholls, Henderson & Pipe hes always gonna struggle.
Last year was definitely the big one for him. He was second in the Champion Bumper, won the Scottish National and had 2 grade one winners. That's what the big boys need to see to start sending him their better charges and to persuade the likes of McManus to buy his best novices (I know I keep banging on about Aland Islands but he has nothing that can keep up with it on the gallop and was by far his best bumper horse last year even though his second best bumper horse came second in the Champion Bumper).
Agree Vaughan is good trainer, and you never know one day he could become champion trainer. Still feel he is along way off the big boys for now. On the subject of the McManus horse's, he buys alot of top horse's who in the right hands would win big races, the problem is he sends them to Jonjo Oniel who for me has to be the worst trainer in the business, when looking at the ammunition he gets each year. Sending these expensive horse's to Jonjo, is like buying the worlds best formula 1 team, and employing Rick Waller as a driver. Id give Vaughen a chance with a few McManus horse's, I fancy he would get the best out of them
Tim is one of a few trainers who need to show more in the Winter because they could get tarnished with the summer jumping brush. I rate Tim as one of the best up and coming trainers, and by the look of it many others do, he will get better quality horses but I think he desperately needs that one horse who wins a massive race for him. I rate him up with Nick Williams and Rebecca Curtis
I agree with you on that as well Nass. To a certain extent he has been a victim of his own success in regard to the summer jumping. He has enjoyed a good deal of success and that has slightly given him the reputation of a summer trainer. His desire to confirm himself as one of the big winter trainers is something which comes across very strongly in the interview.