Top
THERE’S the good news...and then there’s more good news.
The stats show that Trillium Place horses have earned £1.6million this year, beating the previous annual best of £1.3million.
The winners’ tally has reached 82, just two short of the best ever return and trainer David Simcock is confident it will be passed by the end of 2016.
Another major positive, all four of the stable’s horses to have won Group races this season will be back in business for next year. It’s all good news isn’t it? Well not quite...trainers are never fully content.
“It has been a very solid year but could have been better,” assesses David. “We didn’t have a Group 1 winner, so I’m not fully satisfied.”
That’s trainers for you! Even so, there has been plenty to shout about over the last 10 months at Trillium Place, even if David’s natural modesty prevents him from doing so.
The star of the show was Sheikhzayedroad. The evergreen seven-year-old, owned by Mohammed Jaber, proved a staying sensation as he revelled in his role as a cup horse. A Dubai victory and then triumphs in the Doncaster Cup and Long Distance Cup at British Champions Day were great results for connections.
David says, “Sheikhzayedroad was the highlight of the year, winning three Group races and placing in the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. He stays in training and will pretty much repeat what he has done in 2016. He’ll start in Dubai in the mile and six-furlong Group 3 and then run in the Gold Cup, rather than the Sheema. He is just a lovely horse to have around.”
The Trillium team have similar sentiments for John Cook’s Breton Rock. At his best with cut in the ground, he showed he is a classy campaigner with a pair of Group-race successes in 2016.
“To win a Criterion Stakes (Group 3) and a Park Stakes (Group 2) represents a good return,” adds David. “He is a very decent horse when he gets his conditions. Penalties will make life harder for him in 2017 as he is not a Group 1 horse.”
David has an obvious affection for his two likely lads Sheikhzayedroad and Breton Rock. But when he discusses another of his stable stars, Lightning Spear, there always seem to be an extra glint of excitement in his eye. Certainly, it’s fair to say that Qatar Racing’s horse has been held in extremely high regard since arriving in the yard for 2016.
The five-year-old shone with his Group 2 win at Goodwood in late August and ran an absolute belter – could he have been even closer? – when finishing third to the outstanding Minding in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.
“Lightning Spear is a very talented horse and you feel there’s more to come,” says David. “The priority with him next year is to win a Group 1 in England. He is a 120-rated horse and I’d love to think he’ll have his day. There is a good programme for him – the Lockinge, Queen Anne and then we’ll have a think. He’ll likely go back to Ascot (for Champions Day) and after that I’d love to some travelling with him.”
Another horse who you feel should progress yet further is Kirsten Rausing’s Algometer. Already a Group 3 and Listed winner in 2016, there looks sure to be more high days for the grey colt by Archipenko.
Bateel and Carnachy were also stakes winners for the yard in 2016. They won’t be back for another year but the current Trillium two-year-old class seems to contain a clutch of exciting types for the future.
Watch this space...