Trainer on the Up issue 45_Jerkins feature.qxd 28/03/2014 07:52 Page 2
My usage is so great I once got asked by Vodafone to take part in trials as to the effect of heavy use of mobile phones on the brain.
What is the main quality in a horse you look for when buying? The main qualities I like to see in a horse are scope and strength. You need a good physical constitution to work with.
Looking at genetic traits and temperament, who is your most reliable stallion at the moment? I've got a lot of time for Dutch Art as a stallion, but having trained his winningmost progeny (Aubrietia) and his most prolific (Caspar Netscher), I may be a little biased. Both horses were very willing and hardy but very amenable characters too. McCabe and Elusive Warrior in the winners’ enclosure at Southwell
What is your favourite racecourse? I would say that York is my favourite track. It's a very fair, good galloping track with large, enthusiastic crowds.
Does technology feature in your training regime? Apple technology features most highly in my training regime. My iPhone is always in my hand.
What is your proudest training achievement? My proudest training achievement was winning the Gimcrack with Caspar Netscher for Charles Wentworth. It was both mine and Charles' first Group winner and it's a race steeped in history. Caspar went on to also win the Mill Reef (the only horse to do the Gimcrack/Mill Reef double) before taking the Greenham and the German 2,000 Guineas the following season. We had some great times with him and I will always be grateful for being given the opportunity to handle a horse like him.
What do you do to go that extra mile with regards to your horses’ wellbeing? I think you can do no better for a horse than to treat it as an individual, and we pride ourselves on attention to detail to get the best out of any horse, regardless of their natural ability. Knowing a horse's quirks, likes, and dislikes is the key to reaping rewards – happy, well-adjusted horses win races and we will leave no stone unturned in the quest to understand each individual horse in the yard and give them whatever they need to thrive. n
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