top of page
GOLDEN PARADISE
15th April 2024
Golden Paradise got her career off to the perfect start at Windsor on Monday. She was our first two-year-old runner of the year, so we were a little uncertain how she might run; but she looked in command of the race from an early stage. Jumping cleanly, she got herself into a good position under Callum Shepherd, going away to win by two and a half lengths. She is an athletic filly with a bright future. I’m delighted to train a winner for the Bronte team, they’ve been so successful, especially in this department over the last couple of years. It's likely she will run once more in a novice company before heading to Royal Ascot.
PIZ NAIR
8th April 2024
Piz Nair showed he’d improved both physically and mentally for a winter off. He put in a career best performance winning under an excellent Callum Shepherd ride. He jumped cleanly and was able to take a perfect position in a steadily run race, travelling smoothly throughout. Turning in Callum allowed him to get balanced, there was never any doubt he was going to win. I’m confident that he will be able to step up in trip in due course, but for the time being he is showing enough speed to stay at 6f. He’s a lovely big horse with a good attitude and I have every confidence that he can continue to be progressive throughout the year. Many congratulations to his owner breeders, The Niarchos Family. They’ve been incredibly loyal to me throughout my career and it’s always a privilege to train a winner in such famous silks.
SHELBOURNE
3rd April 2024
Shelbourne took a huge step forward from his seasonal debut winning at Catterick under Callum Rodriguez. It was always the plan to get him on some soft ground as he’s a big strong horse who seems to handle it well. He jumped a little slowly which was to his benefit, as they went very fast. There was only a brief moment halfway up the home straight when he looked under pressure; but stayed on powerfully to win in good style. It's possible he could return to the track to take advantage of similar conditions at Leicester on Friday. I’m hopeful this is a springboard for a progressive season for him. Huge congratulations to a great friend of the yard Keith Breen, who’s been very patient with this horse.
PRYDWEN
29th March 2024
Prydwen ran them ragged in the £150,000 All- Weather Championship, Marathon Final at Newcastle. Super-sub Daniel Tudhope gave him an inspired ride, sitting in second the whole way, where he controlled the pace. He got into a lovely rhythm and turning in it was clear that plenty were struggling. Danny gave him a click and it was all over. He registered a career-best at the ripe old age of six. Two miles is a relatively new trip for him and opens plenty of doors moving forward. It's particularly satisfying to win a race of this nature for Blue Starr Racing and Mike Lilley, who have been tremendous supporters of the yard. Their patience has been more than rewarded on this occasion.
MOULIN BOOJ
12th March 2024
Moulin Booj took a step forward from his first run of the year, winning in good style at Southwell last week. They went hard allowing Callum to get a lovely position behind the leaders. When asked for his efforts he picked up smartly. He’s had his issues in the past but they’re well behind him now. I’ve often thought he’d be up to racing on a Saturday, so he took a decent step forward in that direction. We must try and avoid soft ground, other than that he’s versatile, tough, and has a good attitude. Congratulations to his owners Charlie, Roy, Jack, Freddie, Mark and Julian.
ISLE OF JURA
8th March 2024
Isle of Jura completed a famous victory in the King's Cup to secure the Bahrain Triple Crown. He made history and it was a particularly satisfying way to end a brilliant winter in Bahrain. The Triple Crown consists of the Crown Prince’s Cup, the Shaikh Nasser Cup and the King’s Cup.
It was a messy race into the bend, so Callum did well to hold his position. Turning in he didn’t show his customary dash but showed plenty of class and determination to win going away at the line. Jura has now earned a well-deserved rest and returns to Newmarket early this week. He could next be seen at Royal Ascot however, plans remain fluid. He’s bred to be a very good horse and all he’s done is improve so we’re optimistic about his future. If he stays sound, he should have a long and exciting career which could lead to races all over the world.
Huge thanks must go to the girls who have looked after him Rosie, Cheryl and Poppy. Their local knowledge and diligence were undoubtedly the reasons we were able to complete such a historic treble. Huge congratulations go to Shaikh Nasser.
WATCH MY TRACER
7th March 2024
Watch My Tracer made a perfect seasonal reappearance as he came with a well-timed run under Callum Shepherd to win the three-year-old Spring Cup. He's a horse we’ve always held in very high regard, however it's been a matter of him filling out in his frame over the winter and maturing mentally.
We are now working back from the Jersey at Royal Ascot, a 7f Group 3 on fast ground, which should be ideal for him. In the meantime, he might run at Newmarket. Many congratulations to Victorious Racing and Fawzi Nass.
ISLE OF JURA
16th February 2024
Isle of Jura looked better than ever when winning the H.H Sh. Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. He jumped and relaxed into a nice rhythm. A shake of the reins at the top of the straight saw him move to the front with consummate ease under Callum Shepherd; the race was over in a matter of strides.
It was the first time stepping up to a mile and three furlongs, but that posed no problems. He’s now booked for the Kings Cup, which would be a historic achievement given no other horse has completed the “Cup Treble “in Bahrain.
Isle of Jura has thrived over the winter in Bahrain, they have great training facilities and the girls looking after him have done an excellent job.
Many congratulations to his owner Shaikh Nasser.
PRINCE MAXI
9th February 2024
Prince Maxi arrived in the yard looking like a horse with plenty of ability and he certainly didn’t let us down on Friday under a confident Rossa Ryan. He broke a little slowly after being in the gate for a long time. He was learning on the job but put the race to bed in good style winning by four lengths. He was running over his minimum trip, and I expect him to step up over a mile and a quarter and even a mile and a half in time. I would imagine we will run him in another Novice, before making more lofty plans.
Congratulations to Amo Racing, we’re delighted to be a small part of a very exciting operation.
ISLE OF JURA
2nd February 2024
Isle of Jura continued his remarkable season in Bahrain, winning the Crown Prince’s Cup; looking like a horse that’s on the significant improve. He was caught a little further back than planned, but made smooth progress under a confident Callum Shepherd, doing his best work on the line. Phil Smith who is now the handicapper in Bahrain has given him a rating of 110, quite an achievement considering he started life off 71.
It’s now likely he will run in the H.H Sh. Nasser Cup, before finishing his Bahrain season in the Kings Cup. These are two hugely important races in Bahrain, we are hoping to play a significant part in both.
BILLY WEBSTER
5th January 2024
Billy Webster made it three wins from only four career starts when cruising to victory under Callum Shepherd. By design, he was held up and never looked like getting beaten. Visually he’s a horse that is improving at home and whilst he will not be able to maintain such a strike rate, I’m confident he’s a Saturday performer. Congratulations to his owner Redha Munfaredi, who’s had to be particularly patient.
bottom of page