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NORMAN COURT STUD
Norman
CONQUEST Wiltshire’s Norman Court Stud was renowned as a nursery for top-class horses and is enjoying a revival of fortunes under the ownership of Patrick and Tania Trant Words Emma Berry • Photos George Selwyn
D
ebate will rage through the remainder of the Flat season as to whether or not Camelot should be aimed at the St Leger. Those praying that he will attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky will point to the success of first-season sire Sixties Icon as one of many reasons why it will do the colt no harm in his future career. Sixties Icon, who won the St Leger in 2006, was certainly bred to be a Classic winner, being a first-crop son of Derby winner Galileo out of the Oaks winner Love Divine. To the commercial breeding world, however, he not only committed the sin of winning the world’s oldest and now muchdenigrated Classic, but he remained in training at four and five, adding the Jockey Club Stakes and three
more Group 3 contests over 12 and 13 furlongs to his CV. While such longevity should only enhance the appeal of a topdrawer pedigree for those wishing to breed durable racehorses, many with the sales ring in mind struck a line through him as a stallion prospect, imagining he would be a source of later-maturing staying types rather than sharp two-year-olds. “The industry had a view of him as a St Leger winner but I loved his bloodlines and when I saw the videos of his races, I was very impressed with his turn of foot,” says Patrick Trant, who bought Norman Court Stud from his old friend Mick Channon in 2007 and pinpointed Sixties Icon as a future addition to the farm’s stallion roster the following year. “Yes, he was a stayer but he had
speed and that was backed up by Frankie Dettori, who said he was one of the easiest Classic winners he’s ever ridden. So we took a gamble on that at the time and it looks as though it’s working out. The success to date is wonderful, better than we could ever have imagined.” From being given a quote of 250-1 to be leading first-season sire back in March, Sixties Icon has caught many by surprise by being not only the second freshman
“We’re proud of
what we’ve done here so far but we know the journey must continue” after another son of Galileo, New Approach, to record a winner this year, when Vanessa got off the mark at Musselburgh on April 8, but by sustaining that early lead with another five winners, including his first stakes winner Chilworth Icon. Even more pleasing for the team at Norman Court Stud is that they bred Chilworth Icon and co-bred Vanessa with Mick Channon. The role the trainer has played in the early
Patrick and Tania Trant have tasted Classic success as the breeders of Samitar
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