European Trainer - Winter 2011 - Issue 36

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European Trainer ISSUE 36 – WINTER 2011

European

ISSUE 36 – WINTER 2011 £5.95

www.trainermagazine.com

THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOROUGHBRED

Publishing Ltd

LUCY WADHAM

Newmarket’s leading lady trainer

JEAN-PAUL GALLORINI A true champion from a humble start HAVE HORSE WILL TRAVEL: Pot hunting with a passport

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GILES ANDERSON Time to reflect on the past and look forward to 2012 So 2011 is nearly behind us and as always this time of year gives us the opportunity to reflect on the past as well as the opportunity to focus on the future.

One issue which I feel will be coming more into focus over coming months is the ability for European trainers to run a horse in Europe. We’re not necessarily talking about Group or Graded horses but instead we’re talking about handicappers. Prize money in racing always has and always will be a very important issue. But increasingly racecourses around the world are pushing the boat out to attract runners for their major stakes races. The philosophy is simple, the more runners you get the better the betting market you are creating and therefore the bigger the return to your course and racing. But yet thanks to rules set in individual countries, it’s difficult and somewhat confusing for trainers to know which handicaps they can target and if they can run what handicap mark will they be given by the local handicapper.

Taking a look at the full PMU fixture list for 2012 and it’s easy to see that not only are the French dramatically increasing the number of fixtures and offering matinee, afternoon and twilight meetings but they are also increasing the number of international fixtures which can be bet on from France. The power of the PMU is so strong they are now effectively running some meetings in both Germany and Belgium. That’s all good news but one aspect which seems to be overlooked is the simple fact that that the horse population is declining and there simply aren’t the horses to fill all these races.

But with trainers becoming more acutely aware of international opportunities surely it’s now time for us to have a clear set of rules / ratings and guidelines for trainers to be able to run horses in handicap races across Europe. I’m not talking about opening up every race to all comers, instead we’re talking about creating a band of racing for the top 20% of handicappers that can open up opportunity and make our product even stronger and thus rewarding both the racing industry as well as the betting market.

As you’ll read in her piece titled “Have horse will travel”, Lissa Oliver has taken opinion from not only trainers across Europe but also the handicappers on this subject.

Being our winter issue, it’s always a great time to focus our profiles on jumping trainers and for this issue we have chosen the Newmarket based handler Lucy Wadham as our cover profile and Isabel Mathew has profiled the iconic Jean-Paul Gallorini, a true character of French racing.

Where ever your racing takes you this winter, good luck! n

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Chairman’s message

CRIQUETTE HEAD

I

have had a busy few months of travelling and was honoured to represent the European Trainers’ Federation at two international conferences. Both of these served to illustrate the global nature of our sport and the importance of exchanging ideas.

The Latin American Racing Channel (LARC) hosted a conference of South American and American racing nations in Montevideo, Chile, in November, and I was invited to give a presentation of our profession and to discuss medication. LARC is investigating the possibility of banning medication – notably Lasix – and while some South American nations are more committed than others to this move, their first aim is to put an end to raceday medication for stakes contests.

I welcome a reduction in the drugs used in racing, however it is important to realise that in Europe we have very privileged conditions for training and racing as we are on the grass.

We can therefore be less tough on our horses than in South America, where, like in North America, they are trained predominantly on the dirt and with more fast work.

I also attended the HORFA international horse fair in Shanghai upon the invitation of a group of Chinese investors who are keen to launch horseracing in China. A Chinese delegation visited France during the summer and these people are very open to learning from respected racing nations such as ours to

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As I write this letter, the French racing community is in shock following the tragic death of young apprentice jockey Benjamin Boutin. This brings home to us a reminder of how dangerous our sport can be and I extend my sympathy to the family and friends of all those injured or killed in this sport we love.

“I welcome a reduction in the drugs used in racing, however it is important to realise that in Europe we have very privileged conditions for training and are able to be less tough on our horses than in South America” establish their own sport. They see Europe as a model to copy and while geographically China is closer to Australia and New Zealand, a Chinese racing industry would certainly provide commercial opportunities for us in Europe. China also has the Hong Kong model to follow and in this we again see the successful pari-mutuel system which in my eyes is the best one for racing.

For the moment it is very complicated for the Chinese to export or import horses but the situation is opening up gradually. Once racing is accepted by the government there, we can

expect the sport to grow quickly as the backers have a large amount of money, motivation, and ideas.

The recent upset with the new whip rules in England demonstrates once again how vital it is to harmonise our rules to avoid such confusion. This is a sensitive subject and I am firmly against a ban of the whip as it is a necessary aid notably for safety in a race, but it is also difficult to sanction a jockey who is defending the interests of punters and owners.

I also believe that it would be totally unacceptable to disqualify a horse that wins under excessive use of the whip as this would punish owners, trainers, and staff through no fault of their own.

I would like to congratulate trainers of all the top horses we have been fortunate to see this year, and especially the exceptional Frankel. I applaud the decision to keep this champion in training for 2012.

I was delighted to see that two French horses won Cartier Awards this year, and that Danedream became the first German-trained horse to pick up one of these prestigious titles thanks to her victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. This is a particularly pleasing example of the Europe-wide character of racing.

If I had one Christmas wish to make, I would ask for the economic problems in racing to be solved across Europe! I wish you all much success for 2012. n

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Contents issue 36_Jerkins feature.qxd 07/12/2011 13:26 Page 1

Issue 36

CONTENTS...

10 TRM Trainer of the quarter Ed Duinlop, trainer of Snow Fairy.

12 Lucy Wadham

Emma Berry profiles Lucy Wadham, the successful dual-purpose trainer based in Newmarket.

18 Have horse, will travel

The challenges facing connections who travel their runners across country lines in search of better prizes, by Lissa Oliver.

24 Biomechanics

Dr. Jill Esz Smith examines the biomechanics of the horse’s pelvis, the fluidity and ease of motion of which can differentiate a good horse from a claimer.

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30 Jean-Paul Gallorini

Profile on the French champion National Hunt conditioner Jean-Paul Gallorini, by Isabel Mathew

36 African Horse Sickness

Is there hope on the horizon for horses that have to undergo crippling quarantine measures due to African Horse Sickness? By David Thistleton.

42 Fit not fat

Body condition and racing performance,

by Catherine Dunnett.

48 Gary Witheford

Lissa Oliver meets horse educator extra ordinaire, Gary Witheford.

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52 MRI

Stacey Oke outlines how the MRI is playing an increasingly important role in diagnosing equine injuries.

58 Product Focus 63 Stakes Schedules

Forthcoming stakes races from Europe and around the world.

A stipulation for Dubai export protocols to reinstate direct imports from South Africa for events such as the Dubai Racing Carnival was that the diagnostic test for African Horse Sickness be developed

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CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & Editorial Director Giles Anderson Executive Assistant Alice Jefford Assistant Editor Frances Karon Design/Production Neil Randon Advertising Sales Giles Anderson Photo Credits aprh.fr, Emma Berry, cranhamphoto.com, Tod Dorstal, Sarah Farnsworth Photography, Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Ltd, horsephotos.com, horseweigh.com, Liphook Equine Hospital, Caroline Norris, Lissa Oliver, Rossdales Veterinary Practice, Shutterstock.com

Cover Photograph Emma Berry

Trainer Magazine is published by Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd. This magazine is distributed for free to all ETF members. Editorial views expressed are not necessarily those of the ETF. Additional copies can be purchased for ÂŁ5.95 (ex P+P). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the European Union For all editorial and advertising enquiries please contact Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1380 816777 Fax: +44 (0)1380 816778 email: info@trainermagazine.com www.trainermagazine.com Issue 36

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Emma Berry is the Bloodstock Editor of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder and European correspondent for Inside Racing in Austalia. She is married to trainer John Berry and lives in Newmarket with too many horses, dogs and cats.

Dr Catherine Dunnett BSc, PhD, R.Nutr. is an independent nutritionist registered with the British Nutrition Society. She has a background in equine research, in the field of nutrition and exercise physiology, with many years spent at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. Prior to setting up her own consultancy business, she worked in the equine feed industry on product development and technical marketing.

Isabel Mathew is a freelance journalist based in Paris. She works for several different publications covering subjects related to the French Horseracing Industry and elsewhere. After graduating from the Darley Flying Start and working in racing across many different countries, she has been in France for nearly two and a half years.

Dr. Stacey Oke is a licensed veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. In addition to writing for various horse publications, she also contributes to scientific journals, is an editor of an internationally-recognized, peer-reviewed journal, creates continuing education materials for both human and veterinary medicine, and conducts biomedical research studies.

Lissa Oliver lives in Co Kildare,Ireland and is a regular contributor to The Irish Field and the Australian magazine, Racetrack. Lissa is also the author of several collections of short stories and two novels.

Dr Jill Esz Smith operates Berkshire Animal Chiropractic & Sports Therapy. She is board certified in chiropractic and physiotherapy and certified in animal chiropractic by the AVCA. Her special interest is in proprioceptive and cerebellar function and their involvement in athletic performance and injury prevention.

David Thiselton is the chief racing writer for Gold Circle Publishing, who are contracted to produce all of the racing pages for the Independent Newspaper Group in South Africa including eight broadsheets.

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EFT REPS issue 36_Jerkins feature.qxd 07/12/2011 13:27 Page 1

EUROPEAN TRAINERS’ FEDERATION AIMS and OBJECTIVES of the ETF: a) To represent the interests of all member trainers’ associations in Europe. b) To liaise with political and administrative bodies on behalf of European trainers. c) To exchange information between members for the benefit of European trainers. d) To provide a network of contacts to assist each member to develop its policy and services to member trainers.

ETF REPRESENTATIVES Chairmanship:

Criquette Head-Maarek Association des Entraineurs de Galop 18 bis Avenue du Général Leclerc 60501 Chantilly FRANCE Tel: + 33 (0)3 44 57 25 39 Fax: + 33(0)3 44 57 58 85 Email: entraineurs.de.galop@wanadoo.fr

Vice Chairmanship:

Max Hennau FEDERATION BELGE DES ENTRAINEURS Rue des Carrieres 35 5032 - Les Isnes BELGIUM Tel: Fax: +32 (0)81 56 68 46 Email: max.hennau@mobistarmail.be

GERMANY

Vice Chairmanship:

Christian von der Recke Hovener Hof 53919 Weilerswist Germany Tel: +49 (0 22 54) 84 53 14 Email: recke@t-online.de

SPAIN

Erika Mäder Jentgesallee 19 47799 Krefeld Tel: +49 (0)2151 594911 Fax: +49 (0)2151 590542 Mobile: +49 (0)173 8952675 Email: trainer-und-jockeys@netcologne.de

Mauricio Delcher Sanchez AZAFRAN, 5- 3ºM MAJADAHONDA 28022 Madrid Spain Tel: +34 (0)666 53 51 52 Email: mdelcher@hotmail.com

CZECH REPUBLIC

UNITED KINGDOM

Jan Demele CZECH JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS ASSOCIATION Radotinska 69 Praha 5-Velka Chuchle 150 00 Contact: Roman Vitek Mobile: +42 (0)606620591 Email: drvitek@email.cz

Rupert Arnold NATIONAL TRAINERS’ FEDERATION 9 High Street - Lambourn - Hungerford Berkshire RG17 8XN Tel: +44 (0)1488 71719 Fax: +44 (0)1488 73005 www.racehorsetrainers.org

ITALY

Ovidio Pessi U.N.A.G. Via Montale, 9 20151 Milano milano@unag.it paolapezzotti@libero.it tel. +39 02 48205006 mobile: +39 348 31 33 828

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Treasureship:

Jim Kavanagh IRISH RACEHORSE TRAINERS ASSOCIATION Curragh House-Dublin Road Kildare-Co.Kildare IRELAND Tel: +353 (0) 45 522981 Fax: + 353 (0) 45 522982 Mobile: + 353(0)87 2588770 Email: irishrta@eircom.net www.irta.ie

NORWAY

Sven-Erik Lilja Eventyrveien 8, 1482 Nittedal Norway Tel: +47 (0) 67 07 14 12 Mobile: +47 (0) 91 12 88 96 Email: svelilja@nokab.no

SWEDEN

Fredrik Reuterskiöld Swedish Trainers Association South Notarp 3228 S-243 92 Hoor Tel: +46 (0)413 55 00 65 Fax: +46 (0)413 55 04 95 Mobile: +46 (0)70 731 26 39 Swedish Trainers Association North Karlaplan 10 115 20 Stockholm Sweden Mail: worldracing@hotmail.com Tel: +46 (0)8 662 46 79 Mobile: +46 (0)708 756 756

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Ed Dunlop (right) celebrates Snow Fairy’s victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup with connections

TRM Trainer of the Quarter

ED DUNLOP

The TRM Trainer of the Quarter award has been won by Ed Dunlop. Dunlop and his team will receive a selection of products from the internationally-acclaimed range of TRM supplements worth €2,000, as well as a bottle of select Irish whiskey.

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T

he resilience of Classicwinning trainer Ed Dunlop has been tested this season, but his harrowing year finally came right when his champion filly Snow Fairy retained her title in Japan’s Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Gr1) on 13th November, in the process registering her first win in six starts as a fouryear-old.

Dunlop and the filly’s owner Cristina Patino of Anamoine Limited had plotted out a bold 2011 campaign for Snow Fairy, which more often than not didn’t go according to plan:

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after ground concerns scuppered her intended run in the Yorkshire Oaks, Plan B – the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1) at Deauville – fell through due to an unforeseen French rule.

Switched to the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes (Gr1), the daughter of Intikhab was a creditable second to So You Think. Having also been placed in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes (Gr1), Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), and the Qipco Champion Stakes (Gr1), it must have been rewarding indeed for her connections when she passed the post first in Japan.

But later that month, while at Sha Tin in Hong Kong preparing for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (Gr1), Snow Fairy, who won the 2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (Gr1), incurred an injury that will see her put away for the season.

This is the type of bad luck that has seemed to plague Dunlop recently, who in November lost 25 horses when Rabbah Bloodstock removed them from his La Grange Stables in

Newmarket to distribute to other yards.

Previously assistant to Nicky Henderson and Alex Scott, Dunlop has held his licence since 1994. His trainees have garnered three Irish Oaks (Lailani, Ouija Board, and Snow Fairy), two Epsom Oaks (Ouija Board and Snow Fairy), two Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turfs (Ouija Board), and a Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Ta Rib), among other Group 1 scores in the U.K., Ireland, France, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, and the U.S. Dunlop seems to have a particularly soft touch with fillies and mares, who comprise seven of his ten Group 1 winners. He sent out Lord Derby’s Ouija Board to finish in the top three in 18 of 22 races and earn more than £3.5-million.

Snow Fairy has exceeded that figure in prize money as well, carving out seven wins – including five at the highest level, two less, so far, than Ouija Board, with four seconds and four thirds from 19 starts.

As of press time, Dunlop will still be

represented on 11th December at Sha Tin, where Ronald Arculli’s Red Cadeaux is an intended runner in the Hong Kong Cup, a race the trainer won in 2005 with Ouija Board.

The gelding brings solid credentials into the race after he very nearly pulled off a major coup almost a fortnight prior to Snow Fairy’s win in Japan, losing by a nose to fellow European-based raider Dunaden in Australia’s premier race, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup. The tonic of some much needed positive vibes for La Grange recently arrived when it emerged that Snow Fairy will be brought back to the races at five.

In addition, Dunlop is the new trainer of Group 2-winning, Group 1-placed filly Testosterone after agent Charlie GordonWatson bought her on behalf of Nurlan Bizakov for 1.2-million guineas at the Tattersalls December sales.

Dunlop may yet have some good news to follow in 2012. n

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PROFILE

Lucy Wadham: a trainer with a dual purpose As the home of the first British Classics of the season, it’s understandable that Newmarket is more naturally associated with Flat racing, with Lambourn and increasingly large tracts of Somerset considered to be the National Hunt strongholds. It would be folly, however, to overlook jumpers from the Newmarket stable of Lucy Wadham.

WORDS AND PHOTOS: EMMA BERRY

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LUCY WADHAM Lucy Wadham with her husband Justin, their conditional jockey Matt Crawley and jump jockey Leighton Aspell (right)

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INDUSTRY Lucy and Justin Wadham at their yard at Moulton Paddocks and their dog Paddy

W

a band of around 25 horses, this is a yard that regularly punches above its weight and has been responsible for the Grade 1-winning hurdler United, along with talented individuals such as El Dancer and last season’s Imperial Cup winner Alarazi.

“We’ve been incredibly lucky, not just with the horses who have arrived, but with the owners who have been prepared to be patient,” she says.

Her patrons include Sir Percy’s owners Anthony and Victoria Pakenham, the latter an old university friend of Wadham’s sister who has been a loyal supporter since taking a share in a point-to-pointer with the trainer.

Nowadays, however, the Pakenhams have had a major influence on the stable’s increasing forays into Flat racing.

“There are two elements to it really,” explains Wadham. “One is that I don’t really enjoy summer jumping at all. We had a bad experience a couple of years ago when we lost three horses and it’s just not for me. Summer ground seems to have extended now, it almost starts in March and goes on to November so

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there’s a huge fallow period when we could have nothing to run but still have staff to pay.

The fields have got much more competitive in the summer than they ever used to be, but the prize money has got worse and it’s just not worth risking the horses on fast ground.

“Simultaneously we have owners, the Pakenhams, who were trying to support their stallion Sir Percy with some mares. They bought some nice fillies at the sales and wanted to try to pick up some black type with them. Almost accidentally we ended up with

“I still consider myself first and foremost to be a jumps trainer but I must say I’ve really enjoyed the flat work we’ve done.

It’s just been very complementary to what we do here”

two or three of these and that sort of started us on the Flat.”

So far, Wadham has struck for the Pakenhams with the Goodwood Listed winner Enforce, Warwickshire Oaks winner Cassique Lady, and Galileo filly Crystal Gal, a 150,000gns purchase at last year’s December Sale at Tattersalls who went on to win the Listed Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes in August.

Wadham adds: “As that went quite well I think we’ve picked up one or two other Flat horses along the way. Some of our jumping owners quite like dabbling on the Flat, so it’s been a natural progression really and it’s been great.”

Richard Keeley and Stephen Kemble may not have intended to ‘dabble’ when sending Dorcas Lane to Wadham as a two-year-old with a future hurdles career in mind, but the first-crop daughter of Norse Dancer has been a revelation, winning the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket before running placed on three occasions in Group company, including the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was recently sold at the Tattersalls December Mares sales for 475,000gns.

“I still consider myself first and foremost to be a jumps trainer but I must say I’ve really enjoyed the flat work we’ve done,” says

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PROFILE Right: Becky Miller with Dorcas Lane (foreground). Dorcas Lane was recently sold at the Tattersalls December Mares sale for 475,000gns Opposite page: Noble Silk (top) is a two-year-old colt by Sir Percy, owned and bred by Victoria and Anthony Pakenham, and schooling over all-weather hurdles (bottom)

Wadham. “It’s just been very complementary to what we do here, particularly with the dry springs and autumns we’ve been having. We turned a lot of jumpers out at the beginning of April this year.”

With those horses now assembled back at Wadham’s yard after a summer at grass, the trainer’s mind is fully occupied by her team’s 2011/12 jumps season campaign.

The Aga Khan-bred Alarazi, a former inmate of John Oxx’s stable in Ireland, will be to the forefront of the stable’s assault, with old favourite El Dancer returning to the steeplechasing ranks after a spell on the sidelines through injury.

Dual bumper winners Baby Shine and

“There are far more disappointments than good moments and you have to have a little bit of self-belief that it’s all going to come right”

Lucy Wadham on Cassique Lady with her head girl Sarah Nicholson riding Manshoor

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Bevnott are two novice hurdlers for whom Wadham has high hopes this season, while one whose name must only be whispered in connection with potential engagements is The Black Baron, a beautifully-bred but fragile gelding from the family of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call. His exquisite dark brown head, visible from the Wadham family’s kitchen window, provides an eye-catching diversion from washing-up duties.

“He’s an absolutely gorgeous horse who has been a little frustrating. We’ve only been able to run him three times since he was bought as a store horse at the [Tattersalls Ireland] Derby Sale in 2006,” says Wadham. “We daren’t even mention the words ‘work’ or ‘race’ anywhere near him, but he’s bred to win a Gold Cup and we’re really looking forward to getting him back on the track this year.”

When it comes to injuries and setbacks, the patience of jumps trainers must be tested even more than that of their Flat counterparts. A decent temperament is a pre-requisite for the job and it is in this sphere that Justin Wadham, like Lucy, a former point-to-point rider, believes his wife excels.

“Lucy is incredibly even-tempered,” he says.

“She seems to be able to cope with the ups and downs that racing throws at you very well.”

According to the trainer, this can only be learnt over time.

“There are far more disappointments than good moments and you have to have a little bit of self-belief that it’s all going to come right.

I’ve learnt by degrees not to let things get to me too much. When we were point-topointing, it definitely did. We only had two horses to begin with and you could end up with both of them going wrong in November and then having nothing for the season. I’ve learned not to get too carried away with the

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LUCY WADHAM

Jumping on the bandwagon at Flat hQ

highs and not to get too depressed by the lows.”

Such an attitude is bound to stand her in good stead but Lucy credits Justin, who, as well as being a solicitor is also a director of the British Horseracing Authority and member of the Racehorse Owners Association council, as an equally vital part of her success.

She says: “It’s really very much a team effort.

I couldn’t do it if Justin wasn’t here and we share a lot of the workload. The most important thing is being able to discuss each horse and to make long-term plans for them, which is something we like to do, especially for the more able horses, even if things don’t always go to plan.”

The Wadhams occupy the last remaining corner of the vast Moulton Paddocks estate that does not fall under the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation. It’s an idyllic spot, at the top of the Bury Hill canter but far enough away from the main hub of the thriving training centre to offer a little peace and quiet. Being next to the seemingly endless blue battalions may be intimidating for some but not for Wadham, who enjoys the proximity to the largest stable in Newmarket.

“Godolphin are super neighbours. They keep the place very tidy and the security aspect is superb. We’re right next door but we just get on and do our own thing,” she says.

“We’ve a great position here just on the edge with access to everything that Newmarket has to offer. There’s such a variety of gallops that if you can’t get a horse ready here first time out then you might as well just pack up.”

A jumps trainer she may be at heart but if the last few years have proved anything, it’s that Lucy Wadham is more than capable of preparing racehorses under both codes. n

Alongside the many stars of the Flat to have graced the springy turf of Newmarket Heath, there has been clutch of jump racing’s greats, too.

The Champion Hurdle winners Kribensis, Royal Gait and Hors La Loi have all flexed their limbs there, as did the great Golden Miller and fellow Grand National winner Jack Horner in the 1920s and ‘30s. One of the greatest two-mile chasers of all time, Tingle Creek, is buried at Green Lodge and his nameplate still hangs next door, in the box at Hurworth House from where he was trained by Tom Jones.

Lucy Wadham and Neil King are the only two predominantly National Hunt trainers currently in the town, but the list of dual-purpose handlers includes James Fanshawe, Don Cantillon, Noel Quinlan, John Berry, Charlie McBride, Mark Tompkins, James Eustace, John Ryan, and Tommy Keddy. With just over 2,000 horses listed as being in training in Newmarket during the month of October this year, 88 of them are jumpers and have access to superb schooling facilities on the area of the Heath near the racecourse stables known as The Links.

“We’ve carried out a large renewal of our jumping facilities, replacing flights of hurdles and adding new birch to the steeplechase fences,” says Nick Patton, Training Grounds Manager for Jockey Club Estates, which owns Newmarket Heath. Along with the jumps, there’s a loose school and an all-weather strip containing both hurdles and fences that has proved vital during two very cold winters in Newmarket.

“The jump jockeys come up from Lambourn to school and they’re really impressed with what we have here,” Patton adds. “The all-weather strip is a real asset and we have the scope to move fences onto fresh ground to avoid it getting too chewed up.

Claude Monet ridden by Joey Richards, daughter of the gelding’s trainer Nicky “We’d like to encourage more jumps trainers to use the facilities. We have a number of casual day users from the local point-to-pointing community and it’s great that some of the new trainers in town, like Tim Pitt, David Flood, and Louise Allan, also have jumpers in their strings.”

With large areas of the country frozen solid during the last two winters, Cumbria-based trainer Nicky Richards moved ten of his best jumpers to Newmarket early last year in order for them to be able to be kept on the move. They included his valiant grey, Monet’s Garden, whose standing as one of the country’s favourite horses is such that his ghostly presence on the Heath caused a ripple of excitement even among the most hardened of Flat purists.

The 13-year-old Monet’s Garden, winner of 17 of his 32 races, landed his third and final Grade 1 victory, in the Betfair Ascot Chase, from his temporary home in February 2010 and has since been retired.

El Dancer returns to the steeplechase ranks after injury this winter

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INDUSTRY

Have Horse, Will Travel There has been a rapid growth of international and intercontinental runners over the last decade, with 183 European runners competing in Dubai in 2005, rising to 248 in 2010. Last year saw 793 UKbased overseas runners, and three British trainers won in excess of £2-million abroad.

Lower-rated handicappers are also travelling further afield and the welcome opening of Mons, in cooperation with France Galop, for the winter season on the all-weather offers further opportunities, but with increased options for horses comes added pressure for the racing authorities.

WORDS: LISSA OLIVER PHOTOS: HORSEPHOTOS.COM, CAROLINE NORRIS, CRANHAMPHOTO.COM

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abitual traveller across the Irish Sea is trainer Tony Martin, whose horses are as well known to the British racing public as they are in their native County Meath. “Years ago I started going over to the UK with runners because they’d have a three-mile hurdle on a left-handed track twice a week, whereas in Ireland we’d only have one every three weeks,” Martin points out. “You have a choice of races in the UK. I might have one who doesn’t like a hilly track, or one who needs a stiff track or an easy track, and there’s plenty of variation there.”

At a time when Irish horses were at the mercy of the ballot, trainers found it difficult to make a plan, particularly if owners were based abroad and needed to organise travel plans in advance. The lack of a balloting problem in Britain made things very much easier for trainers such as Martin. Better prize money was

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an added bonus, although prize levels have now dropped drastically in the UK. “Place money wouldn’t pay for the trip,” Martin says, “I try to bring a few over, to break down the costs.”

A trainer who often operates in the opposite direction is Mark Johnston, who says, “We go to Ireland for the prize money. Nothing else. In the long term, it is surely good for the quality and future of racing if foreigners want to run.

How many times could I travel a horse to run in Dundalk or Deauville before the owner starts to wonder why he/she has it trained in North Yorkshire?”

The lack of decent prize money in the UK is a problem affecting more than just British trainers and Martin offers a simple solution.

“They should take away prize money from the big races, maybe about 20-30%, and give it to the NH and smaller races. The worst handicap should be worth £10,000, down to the lowest prize to any winner in the UK of £5,000. Limit the top prizes and you could have higher prizes

at the bottom. If you just took 20% away from the big races you’d have half a million to boost the smaller races.” Prestige, he argues, means more than purse.

Lack of prize money doesn’t deter Martin, however. “You get smaller fields in England.

Whenever you have a big field you’re always going to run the risk of bad luck in running or getting brought down. You always get the ground, too. Catterick, Edinburgh, Ludlow, and Sedgefield always have good ground.”

The ease of modern roads and the fast boat all make travelling with racehorses easier and Martin is quick to praise the hospitality of UK courses. “The Clerks are really good, you can always ring them to find out the going in advance, they’re never too busy to talk to you, and the facilities are top class, for the horse, the owners, and the stable staff. You can bring over a syndicate and they’ll bring everyone in and look after them, they do everything to encourage you over. I couldn’t speak highly enough of the course managers in England.”

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INDUSTRY

“Westerner came to Royal Ascot with earplugs in and jockey Dominique Boeuf discovered he was not allowed to pull them out during the race. He did anyway!”

Tony Martin

Westerner won an Ascot Gold Cup and finished runner-up in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe

So where are the problems in racing horses abroad? There are discrepancies in Rules from one country to another that need to be addressed and the racing authorities are trying to work towards unification. As the muchtravelled German-based trainer Christian von der Recke points out, they are not insurmountable.

“It’s important to have friends in each country and just give them a call and check

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certain things. You want to run a horse with a tongue strap and they’ll tell you in advance if you can and what you need to do. If you leave it until you arrive it could be too late. I know someone who regularly runs a horse with no hind shoes fitted, but in Germany that would be forbidden. Westerner came to Royal Ascot with earplugs in and jockey Dominique Boeuf discovered he was not allowed to pull them out during the race. He did anyway! It helps to

know in advance,” von der Recke advises.

The biggest problem seems to be in the movement – not of horses, but of their handicap ratings. “There’s definitely a need for a mediator,” Tony Martin argues. “As it stands at the moment it’s a joke. I could have five horses rated 100 and Noel Meade and Charlie Swan and Willie Mullins could have the same, but you lose all parity when you go over to England. My horse could be 105, Charlie’s

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“My foreign colleagues won’t be slighted if I take a different view to them, any more than I am by their rating. It’s the Handicapper’s entitlement, the handicapper’s prerogative”

“For years the Irish administered their weight-for-age scale completely different to the UK, but now there’s less of a discrepancy. The handicapper is more generous on young horses in Ireland”

“You handicap in your own country and it’s your responsibility. The number one duty of a handicapper is to see that everyone is fairly handicapped and can have a fair chance to win”

Garry O’Gorman

Phil Smith

Noel O’Brien

horse 110, Willie’s horse 120! If a horse is 5Ib better off in Ireland then it should be the same in the UK. What’s the point of an International Classification? Phil Smith seems to be telling Noel O’Brien you don’t know how to do your job. We need a mediator to say there should be no more than, say, 5Ib in the differences between the Irish and UK mark.”

In fairness, Noel O’Brien, the Senior Irish Handicapper, recognises the idylls sought, but also the difficulties in reaching such a happy state. “Phil and I are good friends, but we have different ways of handicapping,” he explains. “I like to take what I would call an old-fashioned approach, understanding why horses have run as they have.

“We handicap on what a horse beats, not what has beaten it. So if you have a horse that runs second to Kauto Star, for example, if he is rated higher than the third then we won’t change his rating. You can take on the good horses and not have to worry about your rating being affected.

“Another difference, at the lower level, is that in Ireland we have a minimum rating of 80 in hurdle races, while in England there’s no minimum. I work very closely with the British handicapping team and we agree on everything

rated 140 and above, which is a hugely positive thing. Once the rating has been agreed, if a horse is rated 140 or above it can run off that mark whether it’s in Britain or Ireland.”

Which raises two issues – what about those rated below 140, and just how does a horse, say, in Turkey or Greece rated at 140 equate to French or UK horses on the same mark? Surely there is a need for a centralised unilateral protocol of handicapping?

“Some countries you’re not allowed to run in a handicap without first getting a rating, other countries will automatically transfer the rating from your own country,” complains von der Recke. “Francois Doumen, for example, can run his horses in English handicaps but not in Germany. It doesn’t make sense! If I sell my horse to an English trainer, he can run it in a handicap at once, but I can’t.”

A bigger problem for von der Recke is that his horse loses its French handicap mark if it then runs in Germany. “I have to run it in a conditions race to get its handicap mark back again. It has to have an extra run, it has lost its handicap mark by running abroad, but if I win the ’Arc’ the German handicapper will put my horse up and if it’s unplaced in a French seller he will put it down.” It seems unfair that the

acceptance of ratings is not always reciprocal and Johnston agrees.

“As far as I am aware, Ireland is the only country where we can run in a handicap, off our British rating, without ever running there.

It has never occurred to me that the Irish handicapper is more lenient than the British, or is working to a different scale. In France, I believe we have to win or run in three races. I believe French horses can run in British handicaps off their French rating – very unfair that this is not reciprocated,” Johnston says.

Von der Recke explains that the major problem is that the ratings in France are higher than in Germany. “There could be a standard European Handicap System; trainers are able to work it out, why can’t the handicappers?” he suggests. “When I sell a horse the first things I am asked are how old is it, how big is it, what is its rating? We know if it’s rated 85 in Germany that’s 42 in France. Why can’t a German horse run in a French handicap off its German rating, why doesn’t the French handicapper trust the German handicapper?”

The simple answer is that the handicappers certainly have mutual trust and respect, but, as Senior Irish Flat Handicapper Garry O’Gorman explains, “I don’t agree with the idea of a

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INDUSTRY Since 2000 Irish runners have won the Grand National at Aintree five times, including Silver Birch in 2007

centralised European handicapping system.

Each handicapper has his own individual style that is as unique as his handwriting. We all take different approaches, in different countries.

Runners must just play by their rules. I know that my foreign colleagues won’t be slighted if I take a different view to them, any more than I am by their rating. It’s the Handicapper’s entitlement, the handicapper’s prerogative.”

O’Brien takes it a step further as he points out, “The bottom line is, you handicap in your own country and it’s your responsibility. The number one duty of a handicapper is to see that everyone is fairly handicapped and that the race is competitive and everyone can have a fair chance to win. If I want to put an English horse in at 10Ib higher than its UK rating, I can do that. Ultimately it’s your responsibility and you have to stand over it.”

How do handicappers cope with runners from even further afield? “Every country does it differently,” says O’Gorman. “When it comes to

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foreign entries we run their form through and make our own assessment. I think at the start of the season an Irish 90-rated horse is equal to a UK 90-rated horse, but probably not by the end of the year. We look at the foreign rating and it’s a good guideline, but the handicapper is not duty bound to go with that. We have to take responsibility for the ratings we give.

“There are a large number of countries worldwide with whom we agree a scale. The Dubai Carnival has encouraged so many horses to compete from around the world – less exposed countries like India, Turkey, Sweden – and we’re learning all the time from them. It has proved great in assisting us in calibrating ratings.”

Many British trainers will be familiar with Phil Smith, Head of Handicapping with BHA. Smith has been doing the handicapping section of the Trainers’ Course for 15 years and therefore hopes all trainers are aware of what’s required when running their horses abroad.

“We’re very happy to work with France and Ireland, and it would be very unusual for a visiting horse not to run on its French or Irish mark,” Smith says. “When it comes to other countries, if we can establish a valid rating, the horse can run, but otherwise it would need to run here three times to enable us to assess it. It can be difficult to establish a rating on a horse imported from Greece, for example. I attend conferences abroad to talk about our rating system and have very good links with Turkey and the eastern European and Mediterranean countries. The more horses run against foreign opposition the easier it is to establish levels.”

When it comes to NH, the French work in kilos and Smith must therefore keep his own ratings on a lot of French horses. “We’re reasonably happy to use a sliding scale, not quite 2.2Ib per kilo, based on the French ratings,” he says. “Ireland is different, it’s much more beneficial for us to keep our own ratings on Irish NH horses. For years the Irish administered their weight-for-age scale completely different to the UK, but now there’s less of a discrepancy. I think the handicapper is more generous on young horses in Ireland and the Irish handicappers drop horses more slowly. We keep statistics over the whole year and adjust accordingly, and we’re putting levels up or down all the time.

“Why would a handicapper treat a visiting horse more favourably or unfairly? If a horse ran 10Ib too light it would win by too great a margin, which is completely the opposite of what we set out to achieve. A centralised unilateral protocol is a Utopian idea and no one could say that it was a bad idea, but the practicalities make it difficult,” Smith concludes.

O’Brien is more optimistic and sees it as a goal to work towards. “The Anglo-Irish Classification is a great start-off point. I personally would like to see the agreed rating from 140 extended to a lower rating and I hope it’s something we can aim towards in the future, but we have two very different systems and handicapping styles that we’re trying to merge.

“Since Phil Smith has taken over in Britain you have only to look at the Grand National alone to see that the Irish horses have a great record. People are always going to be aggrieved, but it’s the handicapper’s responsibility and he is doing his best to ensure fair ratings. Look at how well the Irish horses ran at Cheltenham this year. The English handicapping team actively encourage Irish trainers to call them and discuss any issues they have with ratings. Communication is very important.

“I work very closely with the English handicapping team and every time an Irish horse runs they send me over their rating. I would hope that the Anglo-Irish Classification can be a springboard in the future to expanding the agreed ratings down to lower levels. I would love to see that and the English are very open to that.” n

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VETERINARY

The biomechanics 24 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 36

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T

research on the gait of a galloping horse spans several decades. As early as 1959 Milton Hildebrand wrote, “Motions of the running cheetah and horse,” a study actually inspired by a Walt Disney film, “African Lion”.

The study compares the running styles between the cheetah and the horse, and distinguished the differences in the gait that make the cheetah faster. Using the common understanding that speed = stride length x stride rate, Hildebrand theorises that flexion and extension in the back contribute to speed by increasing the swing of the limbs, thus increasing the duration of the suspended phase of the stride.

He also found that advancing the limbs more rapidly required a combined effort from not only the intrinsic muscles of the limb but also the muscles supporting the spine. Today professionals refer to these supporting muscles as “the core.” More current research supports these early theories. According to Hilary Clayton, a leading expert on equine gait analysis today, “Most of the increase in stride length is achieved as a result of prolongation of the aerial phase.” We know that speed can be increased by increasing the stride length. Therefore,

VETERINARY

HangTime is a smartphone application that uses the internal accelerometers to measure how long the phone is in free fall from the time you throw it in the air to the time you catch it again (assuming you catch it). MerriamWebster defines hang time as the length of time a leaping athlete is in the air. I personally think of hang time as the suspension phase of the gait of a galloping horse as it flexes its body and tucks its hind legs up underneath its belly reaching for the dirt farthest away just like a long jumper would. As a chiropractor and sports therapist dedicated to working with equine athletes, I have come to believe that it is the ability of the horse to correctly perform this motion that separates the elite from the novice.

WORDS: DR. Jill ESz Smith DC mAiN PhOtO: ShUttERStOCK.COm, tOD DORStAl

increasing the suspension phase of the gate will increase the stride length and increase overall speed. Now going back to Hildebrand’s research, changes in two variables lead to

The spine is noticeably dipped prior to back lift

With back lift the abdominal muscles tighten and the back rises

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prolonging the suspension phase of the gallop.

The first modification is to increase or maintain the flexion and extension in the equine spine, and the second is to strengthen the muscles that support the spine or “core” musculature.

So, how do you increase motion in the equine spine? Although, maybe the more important question is, “How you do prevent it from diminishing?” First let’s consider the spine and joint physiology of the horse’s back. The thoracic and lumbar spine is a relatively ridged unit. The rib cage limits motion in all direction.

Therefore, most flexion and extension occurs in the thoracolumbar junction and in the lumbosacral junction. These are also the areas where most injury occurs because they are not protected by the rib cage. Trainers need to pay special attention to this area of the spine as it is prone to injury and is critical to correct biomechanics.

You can check for signs of injury by running your thumb and finger with moderate pressure down the horse’s back on either sides of the spine. If the horse drops their back away from the pressure and/or of you see the muscles of the back tighten this is a good indication that there is an injury that needs to be addressed.

When an injury occurs, it could be from a fall, slip, saddle, or rolling in turnout. Whatever the case may be, a cascade of events ensue, beginning with locally or regionally restricted vertebral motion which leads to a compensatory hypermobility in the segments above and below the restricted area. The body responds to hypermobility as instability by tensing the surrounding muscles in an attempt to stabilise the area. Inflammation and pain are often associated with this type of injury. However, because the horse is an animal of prey, it is not

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VETERINARY

Epaxial musculature of spine

Retractors of foreleg

Protractors of hindleg BOW

Sternum and abdominal muscles

Protractors of foreleg

STRIN

G

Retractors of hindleg Abdominal viscera

inclined to reveal its discomfort but injury will most likely cause an alteration in gait and an increase in concussive forces and even lead to lameness. Additionally, if the injury is not addressed the body will actually start to deposit calcium at the hypermobile areas also in an attempt to stabilise them. This is how bone spurs occur and calcium deposits end up in tendons and muscles. You can easily see the potential to limit flexion and extension in the spine that this scenario poses. Therefore, to optimise the suspension phase it is critical to address and monitor the ability of the horse to flex and extend its thoracolumbar spine.

To more deeply examine the second variable for increasing speed, let’s look specifically at developing the spine stabilising muscles or “core.” Core training was original ly the focus of rehabilitating back problems. Now sports medicine doctors and professionals have been using core training not only for rehabilitation, but also to prevent injury and improve

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performance. The same strategy can be applied to the racing horse.

The biomechanics of the horse’s core musculature is referred to as a bow and string model. The spine and associated ligaments make up the bow and three muscle groups

“In my experience, core strength, in particular the strength of the abdominal muscles, is often overlooked and can easily be added as part of the daily training regime”

make up the strings. The dorsal epaxial muscles help to straighten the bow and stabilise the curve. The muscles of the ventral surface of the spinal column – the longus coli and psoas – help to flex the bow and stabilise the column.

The major muscle group that facilitates flexion at the thoracolumbar junction of the spine is the abdominal muscle group. Only when there is unrestricted movement in the spine and tension in this string, can the bow flex. Therefore, if abdominal muscles are weak there will not be enough tension to flex the back and draw the pelvis to the sternum. It is this combined movement of flexion in the back and bridging between the pelvis and the sternum that needs to occur during the suspension phase of the gait. In my experience, core strength, in particular the strength of the abdominal muscles, is often overlooked and can easily be added as part of the daily training regime.

Teaching your grooms two simple exercises can have far-reaching (no pun intended) results.

The Rounding Reflex There are two ways to do this exercise. Stand to the side facing the horse at his croup. Start by locating the spinus processes of the vertebrae from the dock of the tail up. Apply pressure with your thumb or fingers to the tips of the processes until the horse responds. Or you can locate the “valley” of the hamstring muscles and draw an imaginary line from the dock of the tail on both sides of the horse towards the hip, approximately 4 inches. Mark two coin-sized spots and using your fingers, thumbs, coins, or the dull end of two hoof picks, make a little scratching motion. Start with light pressure, like scratching a mosquito bite, and increase until the horse engages its abdominals, arches its back and tucks its hind end down. The response should be smooth and slow; if the horse responds in a jerky manner the pressure

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BIOMECHANICS should be reduced. Hold this for approximately 10-15 seconds, then release and repeat. There should be little to no movement in the stifle and lower leg. This exercise can be performed every time the horse is groomed.

The Back Lift Place your fingers or the dull end of a hoof pick(s) under the horse's chest and belly. Press into the sternum and upper abdomen. The horse’s abdominal muscles should tighten and the back should rise. You may need to scratch its belly a little while applying upward pressure. Again, hold this position for 10 – 15 seconds, then release and repeat. This too can be performed every time you groom the horse.

Incidentally, both of these exercises can be used as assessments for the horse’s ability to flex its thoracolumbar spine. If the horse is unable to perform these exercises or displays a reluctance to do so it is most likely due to restrictions in the spine and pain present in the area.

In addition to these two specific exercises, I have found it helpful to use Kinesio taping techniques. [For more on Kinesio tape, please refer to “Working the Kinesio tape therapy magic on equine athletes” by Ken Snyder in Issue 32 of European Trainer.] Kinesio Tape is a unique therapeutic tool that has provided new options in rehabilitation and sports medicine throughout the world. The tape has many applications depending on how it is utilised. In this case, it would be applied to provide structural support to joints and muscles without restricting a healthy range of motion and correct improper muscle function by providing neurosensory feedback during movement.

I encourage preventative care through regular chiropractic treatments. If you’re not familiar with chiropractic care it involves the mobilisation of the spinal joints and extremities to restore proper biomechanics and nervous system function.

Chiropractors apply a specific force in a specific vector to a joint to restore normal function. The intent is to elicit a therapeutic response via induced changes in articulations, muscle function, and neurologic reflexes. While chiropractic is considered to be an alternative medicine, research has proven that it is the most effective treatment option for low back pain in humans.

Current veterinary research is indicating that the effects and benefits of chiropractic care for horses are similar to that of people. In 1997 a study

by Gal, Herzog, and Kawchuk found that “segmental spinal motion characteristics induced during chiropractic manipulations in horses are similar to those reported in humans.” Dr. Kevin Haussler, DVM, DC, PhD and faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University from 1999 - 2005, studied the effects of spinal manipulative therapy on horses.

According to Haussler’s research, “the spinal manipulative technique increased vertebral flexibility and increased tolerance to pressure in the thoracolumbar portion of the spine.” Other studies conducted by Dr. Haussler find that “direct measures of chiropractic manipulations demonstrated substantial induced segmental spinal motion in these horses…the induced spinal motion supports current theories on the effects of chiropractic manipulations on joint physiology.” These are important findings not only for increasing the suspension phase of the gallop, but also for equine athletes in general because the prevalence of back problems in horses is reported as high as 94%.

Walt Disney probably did not intend to inspire such a discussion with his true life adventure picture but it is interesting how findings from 1959 hold the same significance today. Even with all the new technology that has been developed over the de cades, it still takes good biomechanics to make great strides. n

“Current veterinary research is indicating that the effects and benefits of chiropractic care for horses are similar to that of people”

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PROFILE

Jean-Paul Gallorini: The true master in the art of success Jean-Paul Gallorini is one of French racing’s great characters. From humble beginnings, the man from Marseille has been champion National Hunt trainer 11 times in his career, and has won the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (French Gold Cup) an impressive four times.

A

WORDS: ISABEL MATHEW PHOTOS: APRH.FR

t the end of last year, Gallorini announced that he would be scaling down his training operation, however the 68-yearold has no plans to retire yet. His MaisonsLaffitte base is currently home to the same number of horses.

Born into a family that had no connection with racing, the Frenchman’s love of horses developed after a visit to a local farm. “A neighbour started up a riding club near me, and I went to have a look around. I then started going regularly.”

It was here that Gallorini sat on a horse for the first time, becoming quickly obsessed.

Before this, the ever-original Frenchman had started his riding career in his parent’s garden.

“I used to ride our pig Arthur around the fields, but there were no races for them, so I quickly moved on to the farm. One of the lads there used to work in racing, and it was with him that I went to the races for the first time.””

After this initial visit, the young Gallorini was hooked. “From then on I used to go to the racetrack very early in the morning to watch the horses, but I was afraid of being seen, so I watched from behind a hedge.

“One day a local trainer stopped to talk to me, and I ended up becoming his apprentice.

Two and a half years later, I made my debut as a jockey at the age of 15½ on a horse called Clinton in the Grand Prix des Apprentis at Marseille Pont de Vivaux, and we won.

“For me it was an extraordinary feeling, especially as I hadn’t come from a horsey background. I continued to ride for him, and

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then as I became too heavy, transferred to National Hunt, winning the Grande Course de Haies. I probably rode around 50 winners in total.”

Gallorini then made the move to the big smoke, joining the yard of champion National Hunt trainer Andre Adele close to MaisonsLaffitte, where Andre Fabre was an apprentice at the time.

Events however took a turn for the worse, as one day when riding at Enghien, Gallorini had a bad fall over jumps, resulting in a fractured skull. “I was in a bad state for a while, and once I had recovered, I became a trainer with the support of Andre Adele.

“I always wanted to set up on my own, and moving back to Marseille was not an option.

You have to be in Paris to get to the summit of the Eiffel Tower! I wasn’t a great jockey because I thought too much, but being a trainer gives you time to do this.”

“I always wanted to set up on my own, and moving back to Marseille was not an option. You have to be in Paris to get to the summit of the Eiffel Tower”

Gallorini took out his licence in 1975, renting some stables near his former boss. “I had no money, and used to buy horses from the butcher for FF5,000 (€750). I gave these horses the chance that nobody had ever given them before, and we started winning some good races.”

Success came quickly for Gallorini, and with that, accusations of doping and cheating from his rivals. “When you have results with horses that no one wants, there is always going to be jealousy, as they don’t see how I could do any better than them.

“When I was younger, I always had to defend myself. My father immigrated to France from Italy because of Mussolini. As a result, I was called macaroni, spaghetti, and all sorts of names, and was made to sit at the back of the class. It is because of this that I decided in life, whether it be a human or horse, to give them a chance.

In 1978, Gallorini started training for the renowned Daniel Wildenstein, an association that was to give the handler some of his greatest successes. He remembers his summons with amusement.

“I went to Mr. Wildenstein’s office on Rue La Boetie in Paris, and after waiting to see him for what seemed like an eternity, he said to me from behind his Louis XV desk, ‘I am going to send you three horses – I only have one thing to say to you, I won’t be made to look ridiculous.’”

A year later, Gallorini won his first Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil with Chinco, having received the horse only a few weeks earlier. Although not owned by Wildenstein, the prominent art collector and dealer would

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PROFILE certainly not regret his decision.

Grandak was to start their fruitful collaboration when winning the Group 1 Prix Cambaceres Hurdle for his owner in 1980.

Several other top-level victories followed in the years to come for Gallorini, including talented jumpers Ardfern, Villez, Vaporetto, Nickname, and N’Avoue Jamais.

Just six years after beginning his training career, the Frenchman won his first trainers’ championship, in 1981. This was the first of 11 titles that he has since won, including six consecutive between 1988-1995.

It is well known that the straight-talking Gallorini has never been one to follow the trend, and it is thanks to him that female jockeys started to receive recognition in France in the 1980s, most notably the talented Beatrice Marie.

“It took me three years to get Beatrice a licence, as the Stewards would have none of it.

I said to myself, there is no reason why women can’t ride as well as men in races. If you are competent, it doesn’t matter what sex you are.”

Above: Roi du Val, owned by Gallorini’s partner, Alexandrine Berger, after winning the Group 2 Prix La Barka Right: Gallorini with Flat jockey Christophe Soumillon, who rode Mandali to a remarkable victory in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (far right), winning by a distance

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“It took me three years to get Beatrice a licence, as the Stewards would have none of it. I said to myself, there is no reason why women can’t ride as well as men in races. If you are competent, it doesn’t matter what sex you are”

Gallorini’s instincts were right, as Marie made a winning debut at Auteuil in the Listed Prix Finot Hurdle, as well as over the bigger fences. In 1988, she became the first woman ever to win a Group 1 event in France when triumphing on Goodea in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil.

Later on, Anne-Sophie Madelaine was another top-level female jockey who passed through his hands, winning the Grand Prix d’Automne in 1997 and a year later on Mon Romain for Urban Sea’s trainer Jean Lesbordes.

Gallorini currently has capable young rider Paola Beacco attached to his stable.

Despite Wildenstein’s numerous successes on the flat as well as in the National Hunt sphere, his dream was to win the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, which Gallorini was to make reality twice in the 1990s.

“The Comte de Montesson, a very well known jumps breeder, who had already had success in the race with Katko three times, wanted to reduce his numbers. Together with Jean-Pierre Dubois, Mr. Wildenstein bought his

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JEAN-PAUL GALLORINI two-year-olds, of which the exceptional Geos, Katarino, and of course Kotkijet came out of.”

Under the care of Dubois for his first 10 starts at the age of four, Kotkijet then joined Gallorini’s stable. The son of Cadoudal became a champion, winning 13 of his 18 races for him, before being transferred once again, this time to Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.

Under the guidance of Gallorini’s regular jockey Thierry Majorcryk, who after an interval has rejoined the trainer, Kotkijet took the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris for the first time in 2001, and again three years later.

Wildenstein said after the gelding’s initial victory in France’s most important event, “I have won some of the best races worldwide on the Flat and in trotting, but this win means the most to me.”

A couple of years after Kotkijet’s second victory, Gallorini received another champion in his yard in the form of Remember Rose, owned and bred by the Swiss Ernst Iten.

The gelding came from small beginnings. In 2002, due to the Foot and Mouth travelling

“Mandali’s owner Bartabas (Ecurie Zingaro) invited Christophe to dinner after one of his equestrian displays in Japan, and it was here that he expressed his wish to ride over jumps for the first time”

restrictions in Ireland, his dam, Couture Rose, was unable to go to her intended match. As a result, she was covered by the nearest stallion to the farm where she was boarding.

This turned out to be Insatiable, who stood for €1,000 at the time. Second in the Champion Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute, the son of Don’t Forget Me had recorded the best win of his career in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp.

Sent to Gallorini, Remember Rose becoming France’s leading three-year-old chaser after taking the Group 2 Prix Congress, the most important event on the calendar. The following year, he took the Prix Maurice Gillois at the highest level.

In November 2008, Remember Rose recorded the first of consecutive Group 1 Prix La Haye Jousselin victories. The following May, the gelding triumphed by 10 lengths in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, and was hailed as a superstar by his jockey Christophe Pieux.

Lining up to defend his crown last season, Remember Rose caused one of the most

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PROFILE controversial moments in recent French racing history. Having anticipated the rising of the tapes, the horse was struck on the nose by them as he moved forward, ejecting Pieux at the same time. The race was not recalled, causing outrage from Gallorini and several professionals.

Still in training, Remember Rose has not quite lived up to expectations since, and was operated on over the summer. “We will just take it slowly, and I was very pleased with his comeback run in unfavourable conditions.”

Another remarkable story is that of Mandali’s win in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil under champion Flat jockey Christophe Soumillon last June.

“The gelding’s owner Bartabas (Ecurie Zingaro) invited Christophe to dinner after one of his equestrian displays in Japan, and it was here that he expressed his wish to ride over jumps for the first time.

“Mandali was the perfect choice, as he had already ridden him before on the Flat for the Aga Khan, so Christophe knew the horse well.

He needed to gain experience before the Champion Hurdle, so just a couple of days before he rode at Auteuil, finishing third.

“The following Sunday, just before giving him a leg up, we discussed tactics. Christophe explained that he thought everyone was afraid to make the pace for the champion Questarabad, so he would go out and do it himself.”

This is exactly what happened, and by

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Jean-Louis Berger

halfway, Soumillon had stretched his advantage to a jump in front of his rivals, producing one of the most astonishing performances in the history of the race as well as a huge upset, going on to win by a distance.

In 2011, the trainer has enjoyed success with Group 2 winners Roi du Val, owned by his partner Alexandrine, who triumphed in the Prix La Barka in May, as well as recent Grand Steeple-Chase d’Enghien victor Formosa Joana Has. One of the newest stars in Gallorini’s stable is

his homebred Caesar’s Palace. Named after one of his sons, as well as his father Cesare, the four-year-old is currently unbeaten over hurdles in five starts, including two Group 3 events.

Clearly breeding is another one of the trainer’s passions. “Together with Alexandrine and her father Jean-Louis Berger, we have 11 broodmares. We recently bought a stud near Paray-le-Monial (Burgundy) with 92 hectares.

“It will be called Etoile du Berger, because that was the name of Jean-Louis’s first broodmare. He has since bred Rubi Ball and Rolling Ball, both winners at the highest level over fences.

“I trained Ceasar’s Palace’s dam, who was crazy and not very talented. She won for me, and then I sent her to Voix du Nord, who nobody believed in. I chose him because he was a talented racehorse, and comes from a long line of Wildenstein breeding, of which I knew very well.

“He was always a lovely looking horse, and although I have had several offers for him, you don’t sell your son! I will see how he goes over the winter, and I might think about sending him to the Cheltenham Festival next March.”

A true horseman, Gallorini’s extraordinary success is not only in the National Hunt field.

He has also trained a number of Group winners on the Flat, and even had two runners in the Prix du Jockey Club last year.

Quite a career from such an inauspicious start. n

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INDUSTRY

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AHS

An industry held to ransom by African Horse Sickness

I

The burgeoning South African thoroughbred industry is currently being held back by crippling quarantine measures due to outbreaks of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in recent years. There’s hope that a new diagnostic test may change all that.

WORDS: DAVID THISTLETON PHOTOS: HORSEPHOTOS.COM

n 1997, shortly after Hong Kong had agreed to follow Europe’s example by allowing direct imports from South Africa, Alec Laird travelled to Sha Tin Racecourse with his South African-bred London News to win the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The South African thoroughbred industry’s impact on the international stage snowballed remarkably quickly from that memorable starting point and presently finds itself in a state of nervous optimism as a new diagnostic test for African Horse Sickness (AHS) that returns a “yes” or “no” answer within hours of a sample being taken could open their borders like never before.

There has been an explosion of talent among South African thoroughbreds recently and, harnessed by the world-renowned trainer Mike de Kock and others, they would add value to the international racing stage if allowed to realise their full potential.

Since the momentous date on which the EU ratified the South African Horse Export Protocol in 1997, temporary suspensions on direct travel have been put in place following outbreaks of AHS in the AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape in 1999, 2004, and 2011.

Despite the seasonal characteristic of AHS (absence of infection during winter), “temporary” in these cases meant a two-year shutdown, and the eventual lifting of the suspensions has on occasion also seen some

JJ The Jet Plane in quarantine prior to entry into South-East Asia

countries making rigorous changes to the previous export protocol.

For example, after the 2004 outbreak, and with the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Dubai International Racing Carnival in mind, the entry conditions to both Hong Kong and Dubai were changed. They barred direct travel from South Africa and insisted that horses first spend 30 days in Europe, the EU having permitted

direct entry after the suspension was lifted.

Therefore, London News’ relatively straightforward excursion can be seen in contrast to the epic journey of the South Africanbred J J the Jet Plane just over a decade later.

The much loved “JJ,” trained by Lucky Houdalakis, began his travels on 1st August, 2010, when entering the AHS Free Zone in Cape Town for the compulsory 60 days pre-

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INDUSTRY entry to Europe. He then spent the mandatory 30 days in the cold climes of the UK before arriving in Hong Kong in early December, less than two weeks before his target race, the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint.

That he beat some of the world’s top sprinters like Rocket Man and Sacred Kingdom, and left many pondering what South African thoroughbreds could achieve if the playing fields were level.

If the quarantine measures and travel restrictions J J the Jet Plane was subjected to were not bad enough, they are currently even worse.

The last outbreak of AHS in South Africa’s AHS Controlled Area in late February 2011 saw exports from Kenilworth Quarantine Station in Cape Town being suspended. The alternative option for South Africa’s horse exports is via Mauritius which requires a 21-day isolation in Johannesburg followed by 90 days quarantine in Mauritius before undergoing a further residency of 30 or 60 days in the EU en route to Dubai or Hong Kong, meaning the journey could take upward of 150 days!

The sport horse communities in other countries are probably oblivious to the barriers their South African counterparts face as their travel restrictions are a doddle in comparison.

This is despite AHS arguably posing less threat than some diseases from other countries.

South Africa accepts horses directly from one of its chief thoroughbred trading partners, Australia, yet Australia has never recognised South Africa’s horse export protocol. Their requirements are that South African horses spend an additional 60 days in Europe before entering Australia, making the journey time 120 days!

The export protocol history goes back to an outbreak of AHS in the Middle East in the 1950s, by which time South Africa was thought to have exported 350,000 horses overseas largely in support of the war effort in the First and Second World Wars.

The Middle East outbreak raised global fears of AHS and the international community deemed Africa to be endemic with a resultant embargo on the

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“De Kock illustrated how ridiculous the export protocols pertaining to South African thoroughbreds are by comparing them to a South African sportsman being banned from playing overseas due to a risk of passing on AIDS”

JJ The Jet Plane won Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (G1), at Sha Tin Racecourse last winter despite spending 90 days in quarantine

movement of horses out of Africa for the next four decades. The exception was the USA which accepted horses from Africa on the basis of a 60day post-arrival vector-proof quarantine.

Following a combined initiative of the broader equestrian industry, scientific, and veterinary sectors, the EU ratified the export protocol 14 years ago and South Africa has since exported close to 1000 horses from Kenilworth Quarantine Station in the AHS Free Zone in Cape Town. The value of South Africa’s horse exports is worth an estimated R250 million (£19-million, or €22-million) per annum in revenue, a fraction of the global market.

However, the temporary suspensions of imports from South Africa every time there is an outbreak is clearly an unsatisfactory scenario and one that is presently impacting the international ambitions of South Africa’s horseracing fraternity and their 2012 London Olympic bid.

A setback to negotiations is often found in the 1980s Spanish outbreak of AHS, as it proved that the disease was not confined to within African borders. In fact a recent study of emerging diseases predicted that outbreaks of vector-borne diseases like AHS are likely in the near future and that non-infected countries should be developing safeguards to defend against them.

The quarantine restrictions South African horses are subject to are chiefly due to an inherent lack of logic and understanding of the real risk of introducing the AHS virus to another country.

Given the nature of the disease and the layers of protection measures in place pre-export, the chances of passing AHS to another country are practically nil.

AHS is a non-contagious virus transmitted by the culicoides midge. The midge can only breed above a certain temperature, so its activity is completely suppressed in the winter months and, therefore, there is a natural window which occurs every year during which the risk of infection is zero.

During the summer months outbreaks occur annually (endemic) in the North Eastern Provinces, which are greater than 1000kms

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AHS If, in the case of an outbreak, a containment zone is accepted by the OIE, it will be possible to resume exporting 80 days after the last case of AHS is confirmed.

London News gave Hong Kong the international flavour they craved and South Africa has played an important role in building other countries’ international racing programmes since then.

In Hong Kong, South Africa’s Group 1 raiding record is certainly unmatched in terms of strike rate as de Kock has landed wins with Eagle Mountain, Archipenko, and the South African-bred Irridescence, while J J the Jet Plane added another Group 1 there last year.

South Africans have made a huge contribution to the success of the Dubai Racing Carnival and de Kock has been the leading trainer by earnings in Dubai on four occasions despite having had to take on the might of Godolphin in their own backyard.

De Kock has won seven international Group 1 races in total in three different countries (Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore) and has won many other international Group and Listed races out of his Dubai and Newmarket (UK) yards.

His compatriot Herman Brown has won three international Group 1 races, one in Dubai and two in Singapore.

Of 11 international Group 1 wins by South Africans over the last decade, five have been by South African-bred horses and one by a Zimbabwean-bred.

This is not to mention that South Africa has provided the Hong Kong champion jockey for the past 18 years as well as top ex-pat trainers around the world of the calibre of Tony Millard, David Ferraris, Pat Shaw, and David Payne.

The global success of the likes of de Kock has led to overseas buyers taking a keen interest in South African Yearling Sales and this has given a huge boost to the local breeding industry, whose quality of bloodstock gets better and better. l

Only six outbreaks of AHS have occurred in the AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape since 1960

from Cape Town, and unprotected horses affected have a high mortality rate.

However, since 1960, only six outbreaks of AHS have occurred in the AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape due to its hot, dry summer climate, its distance from the endemic areas, and geographical barriers including mountain ranges plus the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Furthermore, there has never been a case of AHS in South Africa’s AHS Free Zone, while Kenilworth Quarantine Station, from which all overseas-bound horses depart South Africa when direct travel is allowed, is a world leader in vector-protection.

Additionally, the exciting recent development of the Real Time PCR test for AHS returns a “yes” or “no” answer within a couple of hours, instead of the less reliable current test that only returns a result after two samples are collected 21 days apart.

The new test has been developed and is in the final stages of validation according to the OIE guidelines.

A stipulation for the 2006 Hong Kong and Dubai export protocols to reinstate direct imports from Cape Town was that the diagnostic test be developed.

On top of the new diagnostic test, the Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, is developing a new vaccine based on recombinant technology, which will offer better protection to native horses and be inherently safe to use internationally.

The initial trial has produced exciting results with proof of concept having been achieved.

Four of the nine serotypes will have been trialled within the next 18 months.

Mike de Kock reckons the chances of passing AHS to another country are around a billion to one and he is probably correct.

De Kock, after winning his country’s most prestigious race, the Vodacom Durban July, for the fourth time with the Australian-imported

filly Igugu in 2011, lambasted South Africa’s trading partners and said they should “hang their heads in shame.”

He illustrated how ridiculous the export protocols pertaining to South African thoroughbreds are by comparing them to a South African sportsman being banned from playing overseas due to a risk of passing on AIDS. However, the scientific efforts being made from within South Africa are beginning to tell and it is likely that far-reaching changes to the AHS Code will be adopted at the 2012 OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) General Assembly, which will introduce the following principles: l Official OIE recognition of AHS; l South Africa to define own control measures; l Pre-export quarantine to be significantly reduced with agent identification testing (RT PCR);

Irridescence is a Group 1 winner for Mike de Kock in Hong Kong

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INDUSTRY

“South Africans have made a huge contribution to the success of the Dubai Racing Carnival and de Kock has been the leading trainer by earnings in Dubai on four occasions” South African-trained thoroughbreds have had great success at Meydan

The wish to start showing their talent to the world is not only limited to raids on overseas races as South Africa is already geared to stage its own big international event, the Queen’s Plate, a famous Group 1 weight-for-age race over a mile generally run on the first Saturday of January at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town.

The 2012 renewal was expected to carry a stake cheque of US $1-million and to become

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South Africa’s first international thoroughbred horseracing event, but the current quarantine restrictions has meant that those plans have had to be postponed for the time being.

De Kock’s recent comment included a wish that the South African government be lobbied as the lifting of stringent travel and quarantine restrictions would have an immensely positive effect on both revenue and employment and this will particularly

favour the previously disadvantaged rural communities.

All told, the South African horse community is holding thumbs that the worst of their AHS nightmare is behind them.

It is hoped that their trading partners as well as the international racing community will support them in their dream to reach a level playing field and unleash new life onto the global stage. n

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VETERINARY

FIT AND NOT FAT Is body condition important to racing performance?

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BODY CONDITION

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VETERINARY Performance is linked to lean body mass For a horse to become overweight, there has to be a period of time where its energy consumption (calories in) is greater than their energy expenditure (calories used), which is simply a function of what is fed versus daily activity, including exercise. It is unfortunate that as the result of the vagaries of the European feeding stuffs legislation, one of the most useful pieces of information for a trainer about a their feed, i.e. its energy content as digestible energy (DE), cannot legally be provided as part of the statutory label declaration. Instead, the DE value is usually found somewhere else on the bag, on the website, or only by making a phone call to the particular feed company concerned.

In youngstock, the combination of a plentiful supply of grass and good forage and concentrate feeds can lead to animals becoming overweight relatively easily. Horses in pre-training may arrive with the equine equivalent of ‘puppy fat,’ which can also be the result of over-conditioning during sales preparation. Whilst the impetus is for youngsters to look their best for the sales ring, there is a balance to be achieved between fit and fat, as overweight yearlings simply cause issues for trainers and pre-trainers in their need to normalise body condition.

Whilst horses in full training are rarely described as being very overweight, they may be overweight for the job of racing. Trainers are generally very aware of the influence of bodyweight on racing performance and so strive to ensure that their horses reach the

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Should we really be worried about obesity in racehorses? A quick glance around the paddock of most racetracks in Europe would suggest not. However, whilst the number of horses racing with a much higher than optimum body weight may be low, this doesn’t represent the full story.

When evaluating racehorse feed management, it is not uncommon for a nutritionist to hear the words “I have to work the horses harder to keep the weight off.” Also the question of over-conditioning in youngstock should perhaps be discussed in the context of its effect on horses once in training.

WORDS: CatheRine Dunnett BSC, PhD, R.nutR PhOtOS: ShutteRStOCK.COM, WWW.hORSeWeiGh.COM, SaRah FaRnSWORth PhOtOGRaPhY

racecourse in optimum body condition. A body condition score of no more than 4 to 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 is generally regarded as being optimum for intense exercise such as racing. Body condition score assesses flesh coverage, mostly fat, over the various areas of the body and a score of 1 is extremely thin and 9 is obese. Studies in human athletes and also more recently in horses suggest that performance is linked to lean body mass, or in other words, muscle. This makes absolute sense, as the greater the extent of the muscle mass, the higher the power-to-weight ratio becomes, which is important for intense

exercise. Any large deviation in body condition score away from 4 to 5 in either direction is detrimental to performance. A significant fall in body condition score below 4 can mean the loss of lean tissue as well as fat and conversely a horse with a body condition score above 5 is probably carrying too much fat, which will reduce its power-to-weight ratio.

Feed less, don’t exercise more It should theoretically be much easier to maintain a horse in training at ideal body condition, as we are firmly in charge of what they are fed. Some horses in training do however rise above their ideal body condition for racing and this can happen for a number of reasons. The most common reason for suboptimal body condition is that horses are not fed as individuals and their feed intake is not adjusted sufficiently to compensate for other factors. Whilst a minimum amount of forage needs to be fed regardless of activity level (11.25% of bodyweight), this needs to be balanced with an appropriate amount of concentrate feed to prevent horses being underweight or overweight. Concentrate feed intake may actually need to be reduced if forage quality is particularly good, or if the horse concerned is proving to be a particularly good doer. Feeding by the scoop rather than by weight can also be an issue. Although cubes are convenient and a good choice, they are relatively easier to overfeed, as a bowl of cubes is significantly heavier than a bowl of mix. The difference, for example, between a flat and heaped scoop of cubes over time can make a big difference to energy intake.

Another racing myth that needs to be exploded at this point is the idea that horses are not ready to race unless they are eating a certain poundage of feed. Different horses will require varying amounts of feed at different stages of training and generalisations are risky.

Equally, the level of work should always be

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VETERINARY The low-grade inflammatory state of obesity

A balance between good forage quality and concentrate feed intake is important to maintain optimum weight

An excess energy intake over time leads to increased storage of energy as fat within the fat cells or adipocyctes, which increase in both number and size. Adipocytes have the ability to release stored energy store in the form of fatty acids as required. It was once believed that adipocytes were largely inactive with no widespread effects within the body. However, over recent years, research evidence in other species has emerged to suggest that adipocytes are actually very metabolically active and play a key role in the development of a number of obesity-related diseases in humans such as diabetes, artherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, heart disease, hypertension, and some forms of cancer.

The theory is that when full, adipocytes release a cocktail of inflammatory substances known as adipokines such as tumour necrosis factor- (TNF- ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and leptin, which collectively have a detrimental effect on the body. Obesity is now associated with a generalised state of chronic inflammation. Early work in horses suggests that their fat cells may also release some of these inflammatory substances which may contribute to obesity related conditions such as laminitis and metabolic syndrome.

Perhaps of greater relevance to horses in training is the active area of research in humans that is investigating the potential effect of this low-grade state of inflammation on cartilage health and its implication for joint-related conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Being ahead of the game

exclusively dictated by your training needs and should not be regarded as an additional method to reduce body condition. We should banish the thought that you have to work some horses on some manufacturer’s feeds harder to prevent them from getting fat – just feed less concentrate.

Obesity brings physical and metabolic issues Why is it that being overweight can be a problem for mares, youngsters, and horses in training? In broodmares, obesity can contribute to difficulties during foaling, and research in other species suggests that it may also adversely affect foal birth weights and lactation. Research in horses has also established a link between obesity and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance describes the condition when the body’s cells become lazy to the effect of the hormone insulin. This adversely affects the ability of the body to manage glucose distribution to the tissues.

Insulin resistance has been linked with certain developmental orthopaedic diseases and so is

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viewed as a negative influence on bone and cartilage development and turnover.

Further bad news for the skeletal system comes with the physical effects of carrying excess weight, with extra strain being imposed on joints, tendons, and ligaments.

Additionally, the energetic cost of moving more weight at speed will be greater and therefore also a disadvantage.

“The level of work should always be exclusively dictated by your training needs and should not be regarded as an additional method to reduce body condition”

My overwhelming feeling is that we should make every attempt to ensure that our horses are fit and not fat and that this should start at the very beginning of the breeding cycle. In other words, broodmares do not become obese and yearlings are not delivered to trainers carrying excess condition. This immediately reduces the need for ‘dieting’ during pre-training, and body shape will be allowed to change slowly as training progresses.

Once in training, the main point to press is that if your horses are overweight, feed them less concentrate and don’t exercise them more or harder than your training program requires. Simple things like appreciating the difference in the digestible energy (DE) content between feeds and even using a smaller feed scoop can help to ensure that weight does not slowly creep on. If a weighbridge is available, use it weekly at the same time of day to record horses weights and allow someone in the yard to body condition score the horses monthly.

We are at the beginning of our cycle of knowledge with respect to the inflammatory effects of obesity, and perhaps we would do well to nip this potential issue in the bud as it is such a straightforward one to resolve. n

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INDUSTRY

GARY WITHEFORD The horse educator To call Gary Witheford a horse whisperer would be incorrect. He may be fluent in the silent language of the horse, but the world for which he is preparing his young equine students is anything but quiet. The shouts and cheerful banter of his team resound across the once peaceful farm, just like any racing yard or racecourse stable. For 27 yearlings this is not just pre-school, this is finishing school, too.

WORDS AND PHOTOS: LISSA OLIVER

T

old term of ‘breaking in’ really no longer applies, as Witheford ‘starts’ these young horses by actually giving them the best possible start in life. It may only take three days, but they leave him fully equipped for their date with destiny, the life for which they were bred.

We are here at the private farm of top Irish trainer John Oxx, deep within the Curragh of Kildare, where these 27 elite yearlings have been enjoying a peaceful and sheltered life since transferring from the studs of their birth. These are no ordinary yearlings – they are the blue bloods of His Highness the Aga Khan. Many have never been fully handled, save for routine health checks. They were never destined for the sales ring and have been left alone to mature naturally in the equally secluded surroundings of their home paddocks. Some have been bought in from the sales, still with hip numbers attached, and if anything they’re the harder work for Witheford. He prefers to start a completely fresh horse rather than one that has been handled, and possibly mishandled in the process, and which may have learnt bad habits.

There is a reason why Witheford and his team have been brought over to Kildare for a week from his farm in the south of England: few others can do what he does. It could be argued that traditional breaking methods are not stressful to yearlings either, as they gradually learn to be handled, backed, and ridden over a

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Gary Witherford (second left) and his team

period of six weeks or so. But Witheford gets that job done within three days, with his yearlings backed and ridden in ten minutes or less. If there is any stress involved –and certainly none is visible in these yearlings – then three days of it has got to be more beneficial to the horses than six weeks of it.

Today we are watching a group of yearling fillies as they complete their education and

graduate for a life in the string at Currabeg, the famous yard once home to Sea the Stars and now to his equally well-regarded younger brother Born to Sea, both of whom went through Witheford’s unique tuition. This morning the fillies are cantering and going through the starting stalls, as the loud banter is drowned out by the even louder cracks of heavily padded air-cushioned racing whips. The

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TRAINING

Craig Witheford demonstates standing on the saddle – a method used for starting stall training

noise might be deafening, but the whips themselves are harmless, as Witheford demonstrates. We conduct our interview, strictly for the purposes of research, you understand, while he repeatedly strikes me with the regulation whip. The deal is, when it hurts, I shout “STOP!” In actual fact, it’s Witheford who tires first, boredom more painful than the padded whips.

“It’s a steering wheel,” he explains, “it encourages them to go on and they respond to the pressure.” A horse will usually move away from pressure and the whip is an important aid in keeping them straight. In a race, the jockey will be using it to keep straight and safe; today the riders are simply teaching the fillies that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Whips are waved by their heads, struck across their quarters,

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“If a horse plays up in the starting stalls, the stalls handlers will climb up onto the frame to try to settle it. They’ve never seen anyone standing up above them before. These have”

tapped down their shoulders, all the while producing alarming ‘thwacks’ as padded leather slaps against padded leather. The fillies go about their work without flicking an ear. One, instantly dubbed ‘Miss Bondage,’ actually seems to be enjoying it and is visibly asking for more.

“She’s loving it!” laughs rider Patrick Hills, an apprentice jockey spending time with Witheford to improve his skills. Witheford is a teacher, and not only of horses, but it’s the young horses themselves who will teach Hills the most.

‘Miss Bondage’ illustrates the individual characteristics that will all go into making these either champion, or failed, racehorses.

Beautifully bred, she gives Hills a nice feel, stamping herself as a racehorse of promise. He should know – his father is top jockey Richard, his grandfather top trainer, now retired, Barry.

Generations of experience course through his blood. The filly seems to know, too. She barges her way through her work mates as though they’re totally unimportant. ‘Miss Bondage’ has right of way at all times.

In marked contrast is a beautiful little Invincible Spirit filly, whose rider Katie Edwards also feels has potential. Even at this early stage the strength of their ‘engines’ is apparent. No wonder trainers know when they have a good one, from day one. But unlike ‘Miss Bondage,’ this filly has yet to recognise her own merit. She demurely steps aside to let others pass her, a reminder that horseracing can never be an exact science. Pedigree, conformation, and talent are not the only ingredients and humans have control of only one of those essential parts.

The fillies are cantering together around a

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GARY WITHEFORD schooling ring, three clockwise, three anticlockwise, learning to meet other horses head on. It might not be something they’ll ever encounter again, but Witheford likes to prepare for every eventuality. “A horse could fall in a race or one get loose on the gallops,” he points out, “and if they do meet a horse head-on, it won’t worry them.” It definitely isn’t worrying them this morning, particularly not our little friend ‘Miss Bondage’ who deals with head-on encounters as bullishly as any other type of encounter.

Even more bizarre is the sight of Witheford’s son Craig standing upright on his filly. And I don’t mean standing upright in the stirrups. It’s a party piece often demonstrated by Zac Baker, too – the ‘rider’ actually standing on the saddle, in this case at a walk. It isn’t to train the fillies for yet another possible eventuality: a Frankie Dettori flying dismount! This is a very real piece of training, as Witheford explains.

“We forget that horses are only ever used to dealing with us from up here,” he raises a hand to a horse’s head height. “Quite often, if a horse plays up in the starting stalls, the stalls handlers will climb up onto the frame to try to settle it.

That can be very unnerving for the horse, as well as the horses alongside. They’ve never seen anyone standing up above them before.” He grins. “These have.”

Maybe it’s not just a circus trick, but it still looks remarkable, particularly when you bear in mind these fillies hadn’t even had a saddle on until yesterday morning. As they complete their work they are completing just 20 minutes of riding – ever. With a man stood on their back while weaving through work mates.

How on earth did they reach this stage of being so perfectly schooled? The process begins in a round pen, an indoor lunge ring in this instance, when Witheford meets his pupil for the first time. Wearing only a head collar, never having known more than that, the yearling is asked to canter round the ring. Witheford watches and waits for signs of submission. Very quickly the yearling asks to come in and accept him as a friend and, crucially, herd leader.

Though it sounds too simple to be true, from that moment on the yearling trusts Witheford to do whatever he wishes. He demonstrates this by slipping on a bridle and long rein and away the yearling goes again, this time asked to canter round until it can demonstrate an understanding of basic commands. It turns to the left, turns to the right, comes to a stop and takes three steps back. It then accepts a saddle and is allowed to canter again, to get used to the feel of the saddle and the flapping of the stirrups.

To those watching, it seems as though the yearling has been doing this all its life. Then a rider is put up and away they go again.

Sometimes there’s a squeal and a buck, mainly through excitement. This is all new, all fun, one big adventure. More often than not the yearling simply behaves like an old pro, a riding school hack with years of experience. And the clock

Patrick Hills (left) on a Shirocco filly going through stalls training while other yearling fillies are exercised (below) in the John Oxx canter ring

hasn’t gone a quarter way round the hour yet.

The quickest Witheford has ever started a horse is seven minutes. The longest it has taken him is 14 minutes. When the horse is happy, settled, and obeying basic commands from its rider, it’s started. That’s pre-school over. The next stage might be regarded as primary school, going outside to walk, trot, and canter. As we are witnessing today, the final assignment is finishing school and graduation.

The perfectly educated young fillies leave the schooling ring and spend a few minutes walking through the starting stalls. The most noticeable thing is that they are all confident, happy and enjoying themselves. I said they completed their ‘work,’ but for them it was just playtime, fun and stimulating. “It’s all about keeping their brains working,” Witheford

“You can tell a colt what to do, but you have to ask a filly. They’re just the same as women!”

explains. “It’s easy to see when they’re physically tired, but what I’m watching out for all the time is mental fatigue. When it stops being fun it’s time to give them a rest.”

If any of this, particularly reference to the whip, sounds remotely cruel, remember that even a yearling has a half-ton advantage over a man. No one can force a horse to do something it doesn’t want to, particularly not with cruelty and aggression. “You can tell a colt what to do,” he reminds us, “but you have to ask a filly.

They’re just the same as women!” It all comes down to trust. The yearlings have put utter trust in their riders and are not afraid to do anything asked of them. Without fear they are confident and happy. Which is why HH Aga Khan brings Witheford over every year.

Unsaddled and washed down, the fillies return to their boxes. Tomorrow they will join the main string at Currabeg and will fit right in, unfazed by their new surroundings and lifestyle. For Gary Witheford, the work continues, with another group of His Highness’ yearlings to ‘start’ for trainer Michael Halford, before moving on to clients in Barbados. No matter where in the world there are racehorses, there will always be a call for Witheford. n

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VETERINARY

The value of MRI in diagnosing lameness

Magnetic Resonace Imaging (MRI) is now an increasingly important diagnostic tool for discovering the causes of lameness in horses, particularly in thoroughtbreds.

WORDS: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc PHOtOS: HallMaRq VeteRinaRy iMaging ltD, liPHOOk equine HOSPital, ROSSDaleS VeteRinaRy PRactice

What can MRI do for your horse?

Injuries are a way of life for professional athletes, be it horse or human. For the human athlete, radiographs are now very rarely used, except in cases of clinically obvious fractures. Instead, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard imaging modality for sportsmen, from top-flight European football clubs and Olympic

gold medal winners to amateur weekend jogging enthusiasts. These images are a tremendous aid, not only to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the athlete, but also to coaches in forward planning of fixtures and events.

Although the equine anatomy is a little different to that of a professional footballer, the

MRI features of injuries are identical. So why aren’t professional equine athletes with these very same injuries having MRIs performed?

The truth is: they are. MRI is an increasingly important diagnostic tool for pinpointing the exact cause of lameness. This is particularly true when radiographs, ultrasounds, and other more “traditional” diagnostic tools have failed to find

A sedated horse in the Hallmarq standing MRI unit at Rossdales Diagnostic Centre, Newmarket. The left hind fetlock is positioned inside the magnet, while the head rest helps the horse to stand still during the scan

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MRI out what and where the problem is when lameness persists. In these cases, identifying the exact location and cause of the injury can be a time-consuming task that impacts the horse’s training schedule. Enter MRI, a powerful tool that uses a magnet field to create detailed images (called “slices”) of every millimetre of the limb in virtually every possible direction to find those hard-to-diagnose injuries.

Although originally used strictly as a research tool, “MRI is being used with increasing frequency and is considered a valuable tool for diagnosing certain types of lameness, including those commonly seen in thoroughbreds,” relays Sue Dyson, MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FRCVS, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, England.

Michael Ross, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, a professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, agrees with Dyson and adds, “The most important region imaged is the fetlock (ankle), and MRI is the tool of choice for diagnosing maladapative bone remodeling.”

Ross is referring to a condition also called “bone bruising,” which was previously covered in European Trainer – Issue 32. Briefly, bone bruising, also called “the starting back blues,” is a chronic injury of the cannon bone at the bottom of the fetlock joint caused by repetitive stress. In addition to bone bruising, this article looks at other important causes of lameness that can accurately and quickly be diagnosed in thoroughbred racehorses. Some important “downsides” of MRI are also discussed.

Merits of MRI: what can it do?

Bone bruising isn’t the only “mystery” lameness that MRI can pinpoint when X-rays are not conclusive. Both Ross and Dyson agree that the MRI is also extremely valuable in identifying other conditions of the fetlock joint, such as incomplete fractures of various bones.

“Studies have shown that MRI of the fetlock joints of thoroughbred racehorses can diagnose a variety of conditions that radiographs fail to diagnose,” relays Dyson.

For example, in a recent study by Sarah E. Powell MA, VetMB, AECVDI, MRCVS, from Rossdales Equine Diagnostic Centre, Newmarket, MRI was successfully used to diagnose injuries in 97.8% of the 131 horses (168 joints) scanned while sedated between October 2006 and August 2010. The most common injuries were: l Osteochondral disease within the joint (observed in 54.9% of horses); l Incomplete condylar fractures (19.8%); l Incomplete sagittal fracture of P1 and the pastern (14.5%); and l Soft tissue injuries (12.2%).

One powerful observation made in this study was that in 35.8% of the horses, the MRI findings were consistent with the presence of a fracture that was not evident on X-rays. In addition, MRI failed to identify any significant

A sedated horse standing in the Hallmarq MRI scanner at Liphook Equine Hospital. The right fore fetlock is positioned for a scan between the poles of the blue coloured magnet.

bone or soft tissue injury in a mere 5.4% of these cases.

“This study confirms that some incomplete fractures can be diagnosed via MRI that would not necessarily show up on traditional X-rays, and that performing an MRI scan in lame horses could potentially prevent catastrophic injury,” says Dyson.

Suspensory branch desmitis is another

condition of the fetlock that is amenable to an MRI diagnosis.

“The suspensory ligament runs from the back of the knee, down the canon bone to the sesamoid bones in the ankle (fetlock). In most instances suspensory desmitis is diagnosed based on palpation and the application of ultrasonographic imaging. However, early suspensory tears and those that are on the

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VETERINARY

Complete, spiral fracture of the medial condyle of a racehorse sustained during exercise.

The sagittal image to the right shows the predefined areas of bone mineral densification (sclerosis) which develop in trained bones

inside aspect of the suspensory branches (called the axial aspect) can be challenging to diagnose and [can be] missed,” explains Ross.

Early suspensory desmitis, although an unusual injury that occurs in only a small fraction of horses, can be easily seen on MR imaging and therapeutic measures can then be taken, Ross adds.

In a MRI study published by North Carolina State University researchers, suspensory branch desmitis was diagnosed in 7 out of 40 (17.5%) horses with a lameness localised to the fetlock joint.

“MRI provided information that was complementary to radiography, ultrasonography, and nuclear scintigraphy and that allowed for a comprehensive evaluation of all structures in the MP joint region and a diagnosis in all 40 horses,” concluded the researchers.

MRI a “Gold Standard”

The image shoes very mild sclerosis developing in the lower cannon, which at this point is largely reversible

MRI In VeteRInaRy MedIcIne Veterinarians began using magnetic resonance imaging in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until 1992 when the first MR scanner was installed at the Animal Health Trust in the United Kingdom.

It was another four years before the first scanner in the United States was installed at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary medicine. In the early years, the only scanners were in human hospitals. To access the scanners, veterinarians were forced to persuade the hospitals to permit them to use the technology on veterinary patients.

The computers were slow, the patients required prolonged period of anaesthesia, and obviously, horses were exempt from these early MRI efforts, which has limited the advancement in equine medicine and surgery somewhat, but with more and more MR units being installed, progress is being made swiftly.

54 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 36

congenital (birth) malformations and insidious infections; and l In cases of nonresponsive orthopedic sepsis.

The downside of MRI Although MRI may seem like the coveted “sure thing,” it actually is not the penultimate diagnostic tool for all cases…yet.

One of the main drawbacks to MR scanning is that many of the units are not standing MRIs, which means the horse needs to be laid down (anaesthetised). This adds to the cost of the procedure. Plus, there are inherent risks associated with recovering from a general aneasthesia (see sidebar).

"Our MRI unit requires putting horses under general anaesthesia, so right away, this severely limits the number of thoroughbred racehorses imaged at the New Bolton Center,” notes Ross.

Rood & Riddle installed a 1.5 Tesla MRI in 2007. This scanner also requires that the horse is anaesthetised (for 1-2 hours, usually).

Like Dyson and Ross, veterinarians from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, consider MRI the “gold standard” for diagnosing certain types of lameness in thoroughbreds.

“We scan about 60 thoroughbred racehorses per year. In this population, the most common site we image, just like Drs. Dyson and Ross mentioned, is the fetlock,” relays Katherine Garrett, DVM, Diagnostic Imaging Director and associate veterinarian at Rood & Riddle.

According to Garrett, damage to the articular cartilage that lines the end of the bones as well as damage to the layer of bone underneath this cartilage (called osteochondral damage) of the cannon bone, both in the fore- and hind limbs, is the most common diagnosis made by MRI. “But we also see a fair number of injuries to the distal sesamoidean ligaments, the obliques in particular,” adds Garrett. “MRI is valuable in these cases because injury to these ligaments is not well imaged using ultrasonography.”

Dyson adds, “The carpus is also being increasingly scanned. In one of my most recent studies of 50 lame horses, an abnormality of either the carpal bones or the proximal cannon bone near the knee was found in 29 horses.”

Significant abnormalities were also noted in the suspensory ligament in nine horses.

According to Dyson, none of these abnormalities were detected by conventional imaging (X-rays or ultrasound).

Garrett adds, “At Rood & Riddle we also see osteochondral damage in the carpus and pastern regions, but we don’t scan nearly as many knees (carpi) as fetlocks.”

In addition, Garrett notes that MRI is also useful for the following: l Suspensory ligament injury (particularly in the hind limbs); l Conditions of the foot (navicular apparatus, “bone oedema” in the navicular bone, subtle fractures); l Imaging the head and brain in cases of head trauma and neurologic signs; l Upper airway conditions for identifying

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VETERINARY RIsks assocIated wIth RecoVeRy fRoM anaesthesIa Recovery from general anaesthesia in hotblooded thoroughbred racehorses can induce anxiety and tension in even the most experienced surgical team. Although most horses recover uneventfully, an estimated two out of 1,000 horses suffer a fractured bone on recovery. Most recovery-related injuries, however, occur in horses that were undergoing a fracture repair, and not healthy horses undergoing MRI. Typically, horses that injure themselves on recovery incur a fracture near the site of the pre-existing injury or adjacent to orthopaedic implants (such as bone plates or transfixation pins).

To reduce post-anaesthesia deaths, the industry has developed various assisted recovery techniques. These include the tilt table, pools, slings, padded mats, inflatable air cushions, and rope recovery systems.

Published studies have demonstrated that the pool, tilt table, and sling are all useful methods for recovering horses. Potential difficulties of these systems include the added expense and manpower required for building, maintaining, and using the equipment, the time-consuming nature of these recoveries, and the failure of some horses to adapt to the recovery system.

MR Images of a thoroughbred horse in training showing damage caused by the repetitive above threshold load bearing from galloping

RF coils of different sizes for the foot, fetlock and carpus. The smallest coil that will fit is used for the best image quality.

These coils transmit and receive the radio waves that are used to make the image.

Recent adVances In equIne MRI hIghlIghted In specIal JouRnal suppleMent The recent advances made in the field of MRI in diagnosing lameness in horses were recently highlighted in a full-length, virtual edition of the journal Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound (available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/ (ISSN)1740-8261). The special MRI edition, titled, “Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Equine Limb” was edited by Donald E. Thrall, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVR, a professor in the Department of Molecular Biomedical Science at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“The wealth of information published in Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound…provides an important resource for those involved with clinical MRI of equine patients,” wrote Thrall in the introduction to the supplement.

Sixteen different manuscripts covering all aspects of MRI in equine limbs were included.

Some of the most salient topics of interest to thoroughbred trainers and their owners were: l Assessing the articular cartilage of the distal interphalangeal (coffin) joint; l Comparisons of MRI, computed tomography, and radiography for diagnosing OA of the fetlock joint; and l MRI appearance of surgically-induced core lesions of the superficial digital flexor tendon.

56 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 36

MR image of a horse with a complete fracture of the lateral condyle of the fetlock joint

“In general, we don’t tend to have a lot of resistance to general anaesthesia when we recommend MRI, but we try to be somewhat practical when talking with clients in order to make sure it makes sense for the particular case.

We definitely want to use it when we need it, but we want to make sure that it’s indicated and will help trainers develop an appropriate plan for the horse,” concludes Garrett.

Even with a standing MR unit, like the Hallmarq unit at Dyson’s hospital, MRI still isn’t guaranteed to deliver a diagnosis each and every time.

Dyson explains, “In order to obtain high quality images that will diagnose lameness, the horse must be compliant. Hind limbs are more difficult than forelimbs because of movement, and narrow-chested horses are particularly difficult because it is not possible for these horses to stand squarely because of the large size of the magnet wrapped around the limb being examined.”

Under the influence of powerful sedatives, which are required to perform a standing MRI, the horse can sway. Even with motion

correction software, too much movement can render the images useless.

Cost may also be a limiting factor for some, although Ross says, “It is difficult to compare pricing because you are comparing apples to oranges, but a whole body bone scan costs about £1,000 or €1,600, a single joint radiographic examination costs about £650 or €750, and a single location MRI examination done under general anaesthesia cost about £2,400 or €2,800.”

Conclusion: MRI is a valuable tool Dyson adds, “We are learning more about which injuries can heal and which do not, but we need to collate as much information as possible to learn more about the cause of some of the injuries identified.”

Even until these goals are attained, MRI remains an important imaging modality.

According to Ross, “MRI is a very useful tool, especially when used in conjunction with other imaging modalities. It should be used more frequently in racehorses. A tentative diagnosis can be made using careful clinical examination, including diagnostic analgesia and scintigraphy, but MRI is very useful in obtaining additional diagnostic information, not only to diagnose but to allow a good estimate of prognosis. That said, ‘state-of-the-art nothing’ can replace clinical examination and localising the authentic source of pain causing lameness using diagnostic blocks.” n

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ADVERTORIAL

FMBs Therapy Systems FMBs Therapy Systems supply a range of high quality therapy equipment, which is used and endorsed by a number of leading horse trainers and riders across the UK. Products help to keep the horse is the best possible physical condition. Leg wraps.

The rug combines pulsed electromagnetic field therapy and cyclonic massage. The rug enhances venous blood flow and can be used pre exercise to help loosen and warm up the muscles (from poll to tail plus shoulders and thighs) and to help the horse recover post exercise, or as part of a rehabilitation programme. Different pre set programmes are available, and one rug can be used on a number of horses. Prices start at £1,900 including VAT. Frio-Horse can be used post exercise, to quickly and effectively cool the legs after exertion. FrioHorse can also be used post trauma, as the application of cold helps reduce pain and swelling, or for rehabilitation after an injury. The temperature is measured at the wrap so you always know the exact temperature you are applying.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

TRM Stud Brochure Supports Bloodstock Breeders Internationally recognised and acclaimed for its range of highly specified nutritional supplements, TRM has produced a new Stud Brochure for bloodstock breeders and stud managers providing product information in a practical management context that breeders will undoubtedly find useful.

The TRM stud range, manufactured in the company’s EU-licensed plant located at the heart of the racing industry in Ireland, The Curragh, has been fed by an increasing number of the most successful bloodstock breeders, consignors and trainers around the world for many years.

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Feeding Calphormin to the lactating mare will give the young horse the best start it can get and continuing to feed Calphormin to the young, rapidly growing weanling will optimise its growth and bone development in a correct and balanced way.

The TRM Stud Brochure includes results from significant Calphormin trials undertaken to validate the efficiency of the formulation. These make interesting reading for bloodstock breeders concerned to minimise the incidence of OCD lesions in their youngstock and produce sound, robust and athletic horses.

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especially barren and maiden mares, are in optimum condition for covering yet spring grass is a distant memory, feeding to replace ‘the spring grass factor’ is an important management consideration.

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TRM’s Stud Range includes a number of other products, each of which addresses a key nutritional issue commonly encountered on bloodstock stud farms. The presentation of the content is both clear and concise, providing information that is easily assimilated and understood and of relevance to breeders with either small personal or large commercial bloodstock interests.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Hampton Steel launch a new state of the art fencing scheme for horses As one of the UK’s premier manufacturers of wire fencing and related products Hampton’s™ pride themselves on providing quality product supported by continuity of supply and a thoroughly professional customer relationship support team.

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Manufactured on our new, state of the art equipment at our factory in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire XNET™ takes wire fencing to a whole new level in terms of versatility and strength. Customers really can specify their own configurations” said Mark Johnson, Managing Director of Hampton Steel Ltd Spacings of the stay wires can be anything from 2 inches to 48 inches while the new machine gives the ability to space the line wires at 1 inch increments between 2 inches and 10 inches.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Transform Hay with HAYGAIN HG-1000 hay steamer HAYGAIN HG-1000 hay steamer enables you to feed dust-free palatable hay, helping maintain a healthy respiratory system to enhance performance.

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Findings prove that one gram of untreated good quality hay will contain around 7,750,000 spore colonies: HAYGAIN reduces that number to virtually 0.

HAYGAIN hay steamers are the only hay steamers with a patented method which ensures even steaming.

For further information please contact HAYGAIN hay steamers on (0333) 200 5233 or visit www.haygain.com

STAKES SCHEDULES RACES

Races are divided by distance and the relevant surface is indicated as follows: AWT - All Weather Track D - Dirt T - Turf European counties covered in this issue are: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom. The indexes also include Grade 1 races from North America as well major races from Australia and Japan.

CLOSING DATES

Closing dates for all Irish races are set for international entry dates. For certain races, Irish trained horses, may be able to enter after the published dates. Please check dates with the relevant issue of The Racing Calendar.

All main French races have been given an eight day closing date with provincial races set to a ten day closing

date. The Italian authority (UNIRE) do not publish closing dates for Listed races but we have been advised to set each race closing date ten days in advance of the race.

COPYRIGHT

Under Copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. This includes but not limited to; photocopying for commercial redistribution and or facsimile recording without the prior permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be addressed to the publisher.

DISCLAIMER

Whilst every effort has been made to publish correct information, the publishers will not be held liable for any omission, mistake or change to the races listed in all published indexes.

Call us on +44 (0)1380 816 777 to subscribe from £18 Country USA USA UAE UAE UAE USA

Track Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Meydan Meydan Oaklawn Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Mr Prospector Old Hat St Al Shindagha Sprint Mahab Al Shimaal Dubai Golden Shaheen Count Fleet Sprint H

Country USA

Track Gulfstream Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Hurricane Bertie H

Country GB JPN USA USA USA USA USA

Track Kempton Park Hanshin Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Sunbury St Hanshin Cup Forward Gal S Hutcheson St Gulfstream Park Sprint Swale S Inside Information

Country JPN UAE USA

Track Nakayama Meydan Gulfstream Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Asahi Hai Futurity St Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 1 Hal’s Hope H

Class Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3

Race Date 31/12/2011 01/01/2012 03/02/2012 10/03/2012 31/03/2012 14/04/2012

Value $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $2,000,000 $200,000

6f (1200m)

Age Surface 3+ D 3F D NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT 4+ D

Metres 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

Furlongs 6 6 6 6 6 6

Visit www.trainermagazine.com/europe Class Gr 3

Race Date 19/02/2012

Value $150,000

Race Date 14/12/2011 17/12/2011 29/01/2012 11/02/2012 18/02/2012 10/03/2012 17/03/2012

Value £30,000 $1,724,000 $200,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000

Surface D

Metres 1300

Furlongs 6.5

Age 3+ 3+ 3F 3 4+ 3 4+ F&M

Surface AWT T D D D D D

Metres 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400

Furlongs 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

62 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 36

Race Date 18/12/2011 12/01/2012 14/01/2012

Value $1,724,000 $200,000 $100,000

Age Surface 2 No G T NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT 4+ D

Metres 1600 1600 1600

Furlongs 8 8 8

Closing

7f (1400m)

Call us on +44 (0)1380 816 777 to subscribe from £18 Class Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3

30/01/2012 05/03/2012

6.5f (1300m) Age 4+ F&M

Now available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore Class L Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2

Closing

Closing 08/12/2011 08/11/2011

8f (1600m) Closing 08/11/2011 09/01/2012

STAKES SCHEDULES ISSUE 36_Jerkins feature.qxd 07/12/2011 13:48 Page 6

The KRH Appeal Looking after the soldiers of The King’s Royal Hussars, and their families, now and in the future

Please take this opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the soldiers of this historic regiment, due to serve again in Afghanistan during 2012. All the funds raised through this appeal will be used to meet the welfare needs of the soldiers and families of The King’s Royal Hussars through their welfare charity.

Funds are required to enable the Regiment to play an active role in the care of their soldiers and families who are affected by the campaign in Afghanistan.

Please donate via their webpage or write to: The KRH Appeal Office, Aliwal Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire, SP9 7BB. All donations will be acknowledged and the office will endeavour to keep donors abreast of the Regiment’s training and progress during the operational tour.

The King’s Royal Hussars can trace their lineage back to 1715 and are an amalgamation of The Royal Hussars (PWO) 10th Royal Hussars (PWO) 11th Hussars (PAO) 14th/20th King’s Hussars Each had a distinguished service record and the 165 Battle Honours of the Regiment cover almost every major military campaign. The modern regiment is equipped with Main Battle Tanks and has deployed to Northern Ireland, BosniaHerzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan both in armoured vehicles and as dismounted soldiers. The forthcoming tour in Afghanistan will see the whole Regiment deploy and in a variety of challenging roles.

The King’s Royal Hussars Regimental Trust Registered Charity Number: 1021455

www.krh.org.uk

STAKES SCHEDULES ISSUE 36_Jerkins feature.qxd 07/12/2011 13:48 Page 7

STAKES SCHEDULES Visit www.trainermagazine.com/europe Country UAE USA USA UAE UAE UAE UAE USA UAE USA USA UAE USA USA UAE USA UAE USA HK

Track Meydan Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Meydan Meydan Meydan Meydan Oaklawn Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Sha Tin

Race Name & (Sponsor) Cape Verdi Lecomte S Holy Bull S UAE 1000 Guineas Firebreak St UAE 2000 Guineas Al Fahidi Fort Southwest S Meydan Classic Davona Dale St Sabin Zabeel Mile Canadian Turf Gulfstream Park H Burj Nahaar Honey Fox H Godolphin Mile Appleton H Champions Mile

Class Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 3 L Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 L Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gp 1

Race Date 20/01/2012 21/01/2012 29/01/2012 03/02/2012 09/02/2012 09/02/2012 16/02/2012 20/02/2012 23/02/2012 25/02/2012 25/02/2012 01/03/2012 03/03/2012 10/03/2012 10/03/2012 18/03/2012 31/03/2012 31/03/2012 29/04/2012

8f (1600m)

Value Age Surface $200,000 NH F&M 4yo+ SH F&M 3yo+ T $175,000 3 D $400,000 3 D $250,000 NH 3F SH 3F AWT $200,000 SH-bred 3+ & NH-bred 4+AWT $250,000 NH 3yo SH 3yo AWT $250,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ T $250,000 3 D $150,000 3yo T $250,000 3F D $100,000 4+ F&M D $250,000 NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ T $150,000 4+ T $300,000 4+ D $200,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT $100,000 4+ F&M T $1,000,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT $100,000 4+ T HK$12,000,000 3+ T

Metres 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600

Now available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Hollywood Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Cashcall Futurity Marshua’s River St Fort Lauderdale St Col. E.R Bradley Hcp Donn H Risen Star S Rachel Alexandra St Mineshaft H’cap Honeybee S Razorback H Rebel S Azeri S Fair Grounds Oaks Fantasy S Apple Blossom H

Country UAE USA USA USA UAE USA USA UAE USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Meydan Sam Houston Race Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Al Rashidiya John B. Connally BC Turf Gulfstream Park Turf H Suwannee River Balanchine Filly & Mare Fair Grounds H’cap Fountain Of Youth St Jebel Hatta The Palm Beach S The Herecomesthebride S Florida Derby Dubai Duty Free The Gulfstream Oaks The Rampart S Louisiana Derby Mervin H Muniz Jr Memorial New Orleans H Oaklawn H

Country FR UAE UAE UAE UAE USA USA

Track Deauville Meydan Meydan Meydan Meydan Gulfstream Park Pimlico

Race Name & (Sponsor) Petite Etoile Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 2 UAE Oaks Al Bastakiya UAE Derby The Skip Away S Preakness St

Class Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 1

Race Date 17/12/2011 07/01/2012 14/01/2012 21/01/2012 11/02/2012 25/02/2012 25/02/2012 25/02/2012 10/03/2012 10/03/2012 17/03/2012 17/03/2012 31/03/2012 11/04/2012 12/04/2012

Value $750,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $500,000 $300,000 $200,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $500,000 $150,000 $400,000 $300,000 $500,000

Race Date 26/01/2012 28/01/2012 11/02/2012 11/02/2012 17/02/2012 25/02/2012 26/02/2012 10/03/2012 11/03/2012 11/03/2012 31/03/2012 31/03/2012 31/03/2012 31/03/2012 01/04/2012 01/04/2012 01/04/2012 14/04/2012

Age 2 4+ F&M 4+ 4+ 4+ 3 3F 4+ 3F 4+ 3 4+ F&M 3F 3F 4+ F&M

Surface D T T T D D D D D D D D D D D

Metres 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700

Furlongs 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5

Value Age Surface $200,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ T $200,000 4+ T $300,000 4+ T $150,000 4+ F&M T $200,000 NH F&M 4yo+ SH F&M 3yo+ T $125,000 4+ T $400,000 3 D $300,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ T $150,000 3 T $150,000 3F T $1,000,000 3 D $5,000,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ T $300,000 3F D $150,000 4+ F&M D $1,000,000 3 D $400,000 4+ T $400,000 4+ D $350,000 4+ D

Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800

Furlongs 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Race Date 17/12/2011 09/02/2012 23/02/2012 10/03/2012 31/03/2012 31/03/2012 19/05/2012

Metres 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900

Furlongs 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5

Value e50,000 $200,000 $250,000 $250,000 $2,000,000 $100,000 $1,000,000

Track Lingfield Park Kokura Hanshin Meydan Meydan Sha Tin Churchill Downs

Race Name & (Sponsor) Quebec St Aichi Hai Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai St Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 3 Dubai World Cup Audemars Piguet QE II Cup Kentucky Derby

Country USA USA

Track Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) The Very One Mac Diarmida

Country UAE USA UAE USA USA

Track Meydan Gulfstream Park Meydan Gulfstream Park Belmont Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Dubai City of Gold Pan American H Dubai Sheema Classic Orchid St Belmont Stakes

Class L Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gr 1

Race Date 17/12/2011 18/12/2011 24/12/2011 10/03/2012 31/03/2012 29/04/2012 05/05/2012

Value £30,000 $927,000 $785,000 $400,000 $10,000,000 HK$14,000,000 $2,000,000

Race Date 25/02/2012 26/02/2012

Value $100,000 $150,000

Age Surface 3+ AWT 3+ FM T 2 T NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT 3+ T 3 D

Metres 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000

Furlongs 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Surface T T

Metres 2200 2200

Furlongs 11 11

Age Surface NH 4yo+ SH 4yo+ T 4+ T NH 4yo+ SH 4yo+ T 4+ F&M T 3 D

Metres 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400

Furlongs 12 12 12 12 12

Age 4+ F&M 4+

Race Date 10/03/2012 24/03/2012 31/03/2012 31/03/2012 09/06/2012

Value $250,000 $150,000 $5,000,000 $150,000 $1,000,000

Track Nakayama

Race Name & (Sponsor) Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix)

Country UAE

Track Meydan

Race Name & (Sponsor) Nad Al Sheba Trophy

Country UAE

Track Meydan

Race Name & (Sponsor) Dubai Gold Cup

Class Gr 1

Race Date 25/12/2011

Value $4,894,000

Race Date 01/03/2012

Age 3+

Surface T

Metres 2500

Furlongs 12 .5

Value Age Surface $200,000 SH-bred 3+ & NH-bred 4+ T

Metres 2800

Furlongs 14

64 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 36

Race Date 31/03/2012

Metres 3200

Furlongs 16

Value $1,000,000

Closing 23/01/2012 04/01/2012

13/02/2012

05/03/2012

Closing 30/01/2012 20/02/2012 05/03/2012

21/01/2012 Closing 12/12/2011 08/11/2011 08/11/2011 05/03/2012 18/01/2012 09/03/2012 21/01/2012 Closing

Closing 05/03/2012

21/01/2012 Closing 08/11/2011

14f (2800m)

Visit www.trainermagazine.com/europe Class Gr 3

Closing

12.5f (2500m)

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09/03/2012

12f (2400m)

Now available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore Country JPN

05/03/2012

11f (2200m)

Visit www.trainermagazine.com/europe Class Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 1

27/02/2012

10f (2000m)

Call us on +44 (0)1380 816 777 to subscribe from £18 Class Gr 3 Gr 2

20/02/2012

9.5f (1900m) Age Surface 3F AWT NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ AWT NH 3F SH 3F AWT NH 3yo SH 3yo AWT NH 3 SH 3 AWT 4+ D 3 D

Now available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore Country GB JPN JPN UAE UAE HK USA

30/01/2012 06/02/2012 06/02/2012 13/02/2012

9f (1800m)

Visit www.trainermagazine.com/europe Class L Gr 3 Gr 3 L Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 1

Closing 16/01/2012

8.5f (1700m)

Call us on +44 (0)1380 816 777 to subscribe from £18 Class Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2

Furlongs 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Closing 27/02/2012

16f (3200m) Age 4+

Surface T

Closing 26/03/2012

ISSUE 36 INSIDE COVERS_Layout 1 07/12/2011 13:38 Page 1

ISSUE 36 OUTSIDE COVERS2_Layout 1 07/12/2011 13:40 Page 1

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