The 2025 EMHF AGM and three trainers who topped their respective national championship tables for the first time last year

Last month we published tables of reigning National Trainers’ and Jockeys’ Champions. Here, we get to know two trainers who have become, for the first time, champions in their respective countries. 

In Norway, Cathrine Erichsen finally broke a thirteen-year stranglehold which Niels Petersen had held on the title, while in Belgium, it was Nadine Verheyen who prevailed.

CATHRINE ERICHSEN

A lot has happened in Cathrine Erichsen’s career since we profiled her in our October - December issue back in 2019. 

For Erichsen, a national rider’s title preceded her entry into the training ranks. “My journey with Thoroughbred horses began when I was introduced to them by some of my friends in secondary school, around the age of 13 or 14. I was instantly captivated by these beautiful creatures and fell in love with them. One of the most memorable moments of my life was riding in my first race at the age of 15; it was an exhilarating experience that gave me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. The following year, in 1986, I achieved my goal of becoming an amateur champion jockey”.

Erichsen’s career change to training was made at the tender age of 24. “When I first obtained my trainer's license, I set a five-year plan with the intention of eventually returning to my college studies in economics and marketing. However, here we are, nearly 30 years later!

“Reflecting on my journey as a trainer, I recognise that it has been quite challenging, particularly as a woman in this field. However, I feel privileged to have received strong support from my owners and to work alongside a reliable and competent team. Their belief in me and their hard work have been crucial to my success. I have always taken a hands-on approach, personally riding my horses, which has been both a healthy and educational experience. I have also been fortunate to meet many friendly people and wonderful horses along the way. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to travel extensively, which has enriched my journey. While this path has proven to be more challenging than I initially expected, I could not imagine my life without it”. 

With Øvrevoll being the country’s sole gallop track, Norwegian-based trainers inevitably compete their horses in neighbouring countries, but Erichsen’s foreign forays have extended beyond Sweden and Denmark.  

“Every year, I send my horses to compete in races in other Scandinavian countries, and I have also sent them to Germany, France, and Britain. I have won four Derby races and hope to achieve the same success in Sweden. I sent Albaran to Germany for the Hansa Preis, a Group 2 race, where he finished second. He then set a track record in the Scandinavian Open, a Group 3 race in Denmark, where he faced international competitors and won in a photo finish against Yoanna's Pace, the Group 1 St. Leger winner from England. His track record time still stands. Later, in 1999, we participated in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where we didn’t win but competed against some of the best horses in the world. All the big names were there. That same year, Albaran also won the Stockholm Cup in Sweden and the Scandinavian Open in Denmark”.

Raids to Britain have met with notable success, with Easy Road, winning a Listed race at Doncaster in October 2015 and returning to Ascot a year later to win another Listed event, with the likes of Medicean Man and Sole Power in behind.

“Those trips are, without a doubt, some of the true highlights of my career. Not only did I take the bold step to travel to Britain, but I also succeeded, marking one of the most significant events I have ever experienced. I will never forget when the world renowned jockey, William Buick, mentioned how incredible it was for him to win a race on his new home turf with a horse trained in Norway. Being a guest on the Morning Line show and having the chance to express my joy repeatedly is a memory that many, including myself, will cherish. I vividly remember arriving at Ascot with Easy Road and seeing the Racing Post create a travel map for all the runners that day. We undoubtedly had the longest journey, traveling for days with several stopovers!”

The best horse to have been through Erichsen’s hands was probably, Duca Di Como, a predominantly dirt horse whom Erichsen sent over for the Wokingham two years ago and for whom the Breeders' Cup was once on the cards.

“I bought Duca di Como unseen at the Breeze-Up Sales when he was a two-year-old, based on advice from one of my contacts. Initially, my impression of him was somewhat disappointing - until I saw him working. That’s when I realised that this horse had real potential. He was quite immature and inexperienced, so I chose to wait until he turned three to start him in races. Once we began, he showcased exactly what I had anticipated. I had aspirations for him to compete in the Breeders' Cup. It's still frustrating to think about the opportunity we had to attend the Breeders' Cup with Duca when he was at his best, and we chose not to take that risk. The Wokingham marked the end of Duca's career. He had, quite literally, won everything in Scandinavia multiple times, so trying something new was an exciting challenge. He performed exceptionally well on both grass and dirt, and he still holds track records for milers in Scandinavia”.

So how, after decades of persistence, did Erichsen finally achieve her breakthrough trainers’ title?

 “Although my superstar, Duca di Como, was not in his best shape, the rest of my horses stepped up and truly delivered. I had strong performers across all categories, from handicappers to homebreds and quality horses. Each one of them rose to the occasion, even though my horse material is smaller and simpler.

“Racing is a minor sport in Norway, which means that owners do not often reach out to you on their own. As a trainer, connecting with owners is a crucial part of my job, and while it can be time-consuming, it is also quite exciting. My background in college studies in economics and marketing often proves beneficial in this aspect of my work”.

Like most horses in training in Norway, Erichsen’s are trained on the track. Of course, the Norwegian climate poses challenges, but, also, according to Erichsen, offers unique advantages, too. “Based on my experience, training horses during the winter in the beautiful snow that is common in Norway is highly beneficial. Snow can be prepared in various ways to create an excellent footing for the horses. It cools their legs and has a natural give, making it gentle on their joints. In short, snow is advantageous for horses”.

And which jockeys, racetracks and fellow trainers does she hold in the highest esteem?

“Aiden O’Brian is the trainer I admire the most.

“As for racecourses, among the ones I have seen, Ascot and Longchamp stand out the most. I have been fortunate to attend many race meetings around the world, including the Saudi Cup, the Royal Ascot, the German Derby, and various events in Dubai. Unfortunately, I have not yet experienced the Breeders' Cup. However, if I had to choose my favourite among the events I have attended, it would be the Royal Ascot.

“William Buick is undoubtedly the best jockey in the world. I remember when he first arrived at Øvrevoll, so small and eager to ride; all the horses galloped away with him. His tremendous success, competence, and skill make me proud to be Norwegian. The day William won the race for me at Ascot still remains the most unforgettable moment of my career”.

NADINE VERHEYEN

As with Erichsen, Nadine Verheyen’s maiden championship is the culmination of a decades-long training career. In 2005, she secured a licence as a private trainer for the Molenhof Stable, an extensive concern, situated 30kms south-east of Antwerp, whose main focus is on breeding and developing Belgian Warmbloods, primarily for show jumping. She did this with her partner, Wim Van de Poel, whom she had met in 1991, when Wim was an Amateur jockey – her first encounter with Thoroughbreds. Later, they were to become owners and raced at the now closed Flat track at Sterrebeek.

Seeding her fledgling training operation with purchases of horses-in-training from both BBAG and Tattersalls, they also bred Thoroughbreds for a period of time. “Some of the young horses were entrusted to trainer Andreas Löwe and his team in Cologne (Germany)”, she explains.” We had an excellent working relationship with him. There was always mutual respect and a strong focus on the wellbeing of the horses. We learned a great deal from him. And learning never stops, we firmly believe that”.

Verheyen is still based at Molenhof. “Today, we have ideal facilities: stables, meadows, paddocks, a covered horse walker, an indoor arena, and a 1600-meter training track”. 

However, due to time constraints, journeys to compete at German and French tracks have diminished, as have their number of horses in training. Which makes last year’s success all the more remarkable. “We owe this above all to the horses, who have remained fit and injury-free, and to a fantastic team that is available day and night. A passionate team, united in pursuit of the same goal and deeply connected to the horses, is the key to success.

“Being 100% professional in the flat racing sport in Belgium is not financially viable today. It is, however, a real asset that Belgian racing still has international value and that we continue to have an all-weather track in Mons and beautiful turf racecourses in Ostend and Waregem”.

Verheyen retains a deep admiration for Lowe, although he is no longer active as a trainer. “He found the perfect balance between caring for the horses, his staff and the owners. Andreas Löwe achieved impressive results, sometimes with rather modest horses, but he always acted with great passion and consistently maintained his belief and trust”.

As for jockeys, “Terence Hellier is definitely one of our favourites. He handles pressure well and has an excellent feel for his horses. It's a pity he no longer holds a jockey license.
We also have tremendous admiration for our Belgian top jockey in France, Christophe Soumillon, not only as a rider but also as a passionate mentor for future jockeys. It's truly impressive how dedicated he is” – a reference to Soumillon’s Pony Academy.

“We are fortunate to have experienced many memorable race days, over the years. The German Baden-Baden (Iffezheim) meetings were our holiday destination for many years. We took as many horses as possible and spent ten days racing at a beautiful racecourse. It was both a vacation and hard work, but we enjoyed every moment of it. In 2009 we enjoyed 4 wins with 2 horses and, two years later, we topped this with 5 wins. 

“We also enjoyed numerous victories with Lady Magda and our female amateur jockey Karen Dieltjens, who gave us incredible goosebumps moments both in Ostend and at Waregem Koerse. The highlight of this combination came in 2022, with 5 starts and 5 wins, including the Prix de Prince Rose in Ostend and the Prix Bingoal St Leger in Waregem, which we won for the second year in a row. In 2023 a long break was necessary for Lady Magda, but in 2024 she won the Prix de Prince Rose in Ostend again, which is a unique achievement. No horse has ever won the Prix de Prince Rose twice”.

A third victory might even be on the cards on August 4th for Verheyen’s stable star, who now races in the colours of her amateur rider, Karen Dieltjens.  “We hope to participate again this year with Lady Magda and Karen Dieltjens in the Prix de Prince Rose in Ostend and the Prix Bingoal St Leger in Waregem.”

KAVANAGH PRESIDES OVER FINAL EMHF MEETING

At 1.30pm on June 1st 2010 the founding meeting of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation took place in Stockholm, Sweden. The Chair that day, as for the next fifteen years, was Brian Kavanagh, then CEO of Horse Racing Ireland. At 5.00pm on Friday, May 3rd 2025, in Merano, Italy, Kavanagh – now CEO of The Curragh racecourse – drew to a close the first day of this year’s EMHF General Assembly, which was to be his final meeting in charge of the Federation. 

Italy's most northerly racecourse, Merano Maia, sits against a backdrop of towering, snow-capped Alpine mountains. Just south of the Austrian border, this area of South Tyrol has a vibe all its own, where German is at least as widely used as Italian. Italy’s premier jumps track, home each September to the Gran Premio Merano, must rank among the world’s most beautifully-situated and several of the delegates revealed that it was on their ‘bucket-list’ of courses to visit.

The meeting saw the re-election of Poland’s Jakub Kasprzak to its nine-strong Executive Council. Sadly, Lebanon’s Associate Membership was suspended, due to the absence of Thoroughbred racing there in recent years. The group received a presentation from the EMHF’s Political Advisor, Cathy McGlynn, on the status of the EU review of its legislation relating to animal welfare in transport and on ongoing efforts to secure free movement for Thoroughbreds being moved for breeding and sales purposes. Commitments were made to hold EMHF Seminars, later this year, on the subjects of Handicapping and Co-Ownership. The General Assembly had been immediately preceded by the second EuroMed Stewards’ Conference, again organised by the British Horseracing Authority. 

There was a strong and varied contingent of representatives of relevant commercial organisations, many making return visits, and presentations were made by LockCon, manufacturers of doping control kits, MYLAPS (automated timing technology), Pegasus (horse nutrition and transport) and Equine MediRecord (anti-doping and horse welfare systems) as well as from the International Representative of the Organization of Racing Investigators.

For the first time, much of the second day of business was set aside for group strategic discussions, in which members discussed what they would like to see from the Federation over forthcoming years, as we enter a new era of our development under new Chair, France Galop’s Henri Pouret. These ideas will be considered further by our Executive Council at its next meeting, in Navan, Ireland, in November, before a plan for the future is presented to next year’s General Assembly.

Our Italian hosts, the Ministry of Agriculture and the executive of Maia Racecourse, then treated the group to a dinner in the Restaurant in the Kursaal, the grand hall within the Kurhaus, a famous architectural landmark in the city, at which a presentation was made to Kavanagh in reflection of his enormous contribution to the Federation. 

We close this piece with some reflections from our recently departed Chair.

Q: How would you characterise the development of the EMHF, since its inception fifteen years ago?

It has been very satisfying to see the development of the federation over recent years into more than just a networking body between large and small racing jurisdictions in the region (although that is still a very important function). The participation at a senior level from all member countries is a big benefit and has encouraged a structured and consistent approach to areas such as horse welfare, doping control, race planning and grading through the region. The federation plays an active role within the ifha and through its contacts with other industry bodies is working to assist eu policy development in critical areas such as horse transport. The work of paull khan as secretary general is critical in pulling all of this together.

Q: You also held high office – as Vice-Chair for many years – of the global body, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. What do you feel are the additional benefits that the regional federations, like the EMHF and Asian Racing Federation, bring to the sport?

I think they are essential to filter IFHA policy decisions down to individual member countries and to ensure a consistent approach both regionally and globally. They are also very important channels to ensure that specific regional issues are properly articulated and addressed by the senior international racing body.

Q: You must hold many memories of visits to EMHF member countries for your annual General Assembly and Executive Council Meetings. Which are the most vivid?

It has been a privilege to visit so many wonderful racing venues throughout the european and mediterranean region and to see at first hand the high quality and wonderful variety of racecourses within the region. It would be wrong to single any one out, but my abiding memory will be of the wonderful people working to promote horse racing throughout the region and the firm and lasting friendships made.

Next year, the EMHF ‘roadshow’ rolls into Porto. Portugal has kindly offered to host what will be the first EMHF meeting in that country. It will take place on July 11th and 12th 2026.

The Norwegian Trainer, Silja Støren, with her raft of promising recruits for the season ahead

Article by Xander Brett

Oslo isn’t the North Pole. Polar bears don’t roam the streets. Reaching the Arctic Circle, indeed, requires a 14-hour drive from the city centre. But snow can coat the Norwegian capital for months at a time. Training horses in this country is no easy accomplishment. That said, it’s a feat achieved by some 37 trainers, 14 of whom call it their profession. Among the full-time contingent, Silja Støren is based at Øvrevoll, Norway’s only racecourse, which sits in the Oslo suburbs. Øvrevoll’s surroundings are home to around 200 of the nation’s 250-odd horses in training. Støren, like each of her Øvrevoll colleagues, enjoys use of the course’s turf and dirt oval. She competes at her home track, and has easy access to a myriad of venues in Sweden and Denmark.

Now in her 30s, Støren has always called Oslo home. Her Norwegian father was a surgeon and her Icelandic mother a nurse. She describes it as a “medical family”, and says there were no horses around while she was growing up. That, perhaps, was wise, given young Silja was allergic to the animals. As her equine enthusiasm developed, Støren’s immune system had to keep pace. “To begin with,” she explains, “I could only spend ten minutes inside a stable. As I got better, that grew to 15 minutes. Before long, I was spending time with horses without the allergy bothering me. It had more or less gone by the time I was ten. That was when I started riding lessons.” Støren’s first ‘pony’, Aberfeldy, was a four-year-old retired racehorse. He arrived when Støren was 12. “My father didn’t know much about horses,” Støren laughs, “so he didn’t know that a 12-year-old girl should probably have a pony, not a thoroughbred. I saw Aberfeldy as a big pony, though. He was the kindest horse ever, and probably kinder than most ponies. Ponies, of course, aren’t always gentle.”

Just three years after Aberfeldy’s arrival, Støren took out an amateur jockey’s licence. She threw herself into the Fegentri amateur riders’ series, and spent two winters working in Spain, at the yards of José Lopera and Guillermo Arizkoretta. Another stint saw her based at the Royal Stables in Bahrain. “I wanted to travel the world and gather experience,” Støren explains, adding that Fegentri adventures took her as far afield as Abu Dhabi and the United States, where she even rode a bunch of winners. “I was 15 when I took out my amateur licence,” she continues. “That’s as young as you’re allowed. Fegentri was a fantastic opportunity to explore the racing lifestyles of other countries. I rode out wherever I was, so I made connections with various trainers and learnt their different ways of working.” 

Back home, Støren picked up Norway’s Champion Amateur title in 2014 and 2015. She’s adamant, however, that a professional riding career wasn’t for her. “In Norway,” Støren explains, “female apprentices are usually light. That means they get most of their rides from male jockeys who can’t make that weight. I didn’t really have that advantage, though I could make 56 kilos on a good day.” Støren served her apprenticeship under Oslo-based Isidro Vergara. By 2020, she had hung up her boots and joined him in the training ranks. “I always wanted to train,” Støren makes clear. “I just needed to arrive at a point where I thought I could bring in the owners. I was told early on that training horses is easy; it’s finding owners that’s difficult.”

Støren says years of riding experience has provided valuable lessons for her training career. It helps, too, that she can count on advice from her partner, Manuel Martinez, who is currently serving as Norway’s Champion Jockey. “Having Manuel has been so helpful,” Støren muses. “He knows the horses so well. He has played a big part in building up the success of the stable. I don’t think I could’ve done it without him.” Martinez has racked up over 3,000 victories around the world. He was Støren’s ready-made retainer and only form of assistance when she took out a trainer’s licence. Four years on, the yard’s ranks have swelled. The couple are now joined by a steady stream of work riders each morning. “I’m always trying to bring new people into the sport,” Støren states, saying she even welcomes prospective employees whose first equine experience is getting the leg-up on a racehorse.

“My main focus,” Støren explains, “is to keep the horses happy and sound. I try to train and feed them individually. The aim is to keep them fit, but not so as they get injured or lose interest. If a horse isn’t moving like it should, or if I want to change equipment, I’ve an advantage in that I can get on and see how it feels for myself. If I’m in doubt, I can put Manuel onboard. Together, we usually figure it out.” Støren says she knows each of her horses well, and she’d like to think she can spot if one isn’t themselves. She says her stable is assisted by a good team of farriers and vets, and she ensures the horses spend time in the paddocks. “We like to bring our horses to the forest in winter,” Støren adds. “They canter uphill in the snow, building a strong ground condition for the season.”

Norway has exported William Buick and French-based jockey Frida Valle Skar. Martinez and Støren’s former boss, Isidro Vergara, meanwhile, are among many South Americans propping up the Scandinavian racing world. Elione Chaves, Annike Bye Hansen’s newly signed first jockey, hails from Brazil. Chaves flew the Norwegian flag at Royal Ascot last year. He was aboard the Cathrine Erichsen-trained Duca Di Como when the now nine-year-old recorded a disappointing second-last in the Wokingham. Duca Di Como did, however, take a fifth success in Sweden’s Listed Nickes Minneslöpning later in the year. 

Carlos Lopez, who acts as stable jockey for Niels Petersen – Norway’s Champion Trainer – is a Chilean arrival. “There are lots of South Americans,” Støren confirms, despite the paperwork required for arrivals outside the European Union or European Economic Area. “They have to apply to work here,” says Støren, “then wait two or three months for a response.” Støren is on a drive to recruit more native-born Norwegians. “The problem is,” she admits, “compared to other work in Norway, this isn’t lucrative. We work long hours, and it doesn’t pay well. The South Americans, however, are earning more than they would back home. They can send money to their families, even if Norway’s living costs are high.”

With new horses filling empty boxes, Støren needs the staff. She is, though, covered for the season, with enough employees to look after her operation. Last year, Støren had a battalion of just over 20 horses. A marked increase, certainly, from the 12 or so she looked after during her first few years with a licence. 

The current line-up is headlined by five-year-old Hotline Bling. The son of Cotai Glory ended last season behind Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights in the Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship. That came three months after he stormed clear to land Bro Park’s Listed Challenge Stakes, delivering Støren her first Black-Type success. 

Now the property of Valstad Stable, Hotline Bling transferred from Amo Racing ownership, and the yard of Richard Hannon, midway through his two-year-old campaign. Running three times in Dubai at the start of 2022, he took the Norwegian 2,000 Guineas later that year. A trip to Glorious Goodwood followed, where he came home fifth of seven in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes. 

Støren says she’s delighted to have a horse who can compete with foreign raiders. “Hotline Bling particularly loves Bro Park,” she continues. “He raced twice in Norway last year, but the course didn’t suit him. When he gets to a flat track like Bro Park, he’s super good. It has been great to show people that we can train a horse like him.”

Støren says she gets on well with her owners, and they feel they can ring her anytime. “They all support us,” she explains, “and we spend time with them outside work.” Hans Christian Axel Melbye and Miriam Top are among her newest patrons. Together, the couple form Bling Enterprise, an operation that keeps a sizable string at Støren’s yard. 

This includes All Star Bling, a €120,000 purchase at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale. “Bling Enterprise have been a super addition to our team,” Støren explains. “They have invested in us, and they have trusted us with so many nicely bred horses.” Støren says it all started when Hans Christian Valstad (of Valstad Stable, who own Hotline Bling) came to install an alarm at Melbye’s house. “He mentioned he had a racehorse,” Støren explains. Melbye then came to her open day. “I told him we had a 50 per cent share in a Norwegian-bred horse,” she continues. “He bought the share. Later, he wanted something for himself, so he secured two horses at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. He bought a couple more last summer.” 

Støren says she likes to support Norwegian-breds, but she’s equally excited to see how British and Irish imports get on in Scandinavia. Breeders of Norwegian horses receive 20 per cent of what the horse earns, and there are races dedicated to Norwegian or Scandinavian-breds. Owners can also receive a bonus for taking on imported runners, with 30,000 NOK (c. £2,240) available to cover import costs.

Alongside Hotline Bling, Sid Game was among a handful of Støren stable stars last year. The now four-year-old won six of his seven starts in 2023, signing off the season with victory in Øvrevoll’s Breeders Prize Sprint. Thanks to generous prize money in races for Norwegian and Scandinavian-breds, Sid Game was second only to Wido Neuroth’s Norwegian Derby-winning Ami De Vega as the track’s highest earning three-year-old. “He went out and did exactly what he was supposed to do,” says Støren. “I also had Buckyboss. He had two wins and was second to Sid Game in the Breeders Prize Sprint. Those horses have been great advertisements. But helping any horse achieve its best is what I enjoy most about this job.” 

Eleven Støren charges won at least once last year, and the trainer says she hopes to run more horses outside Scandinavia shortly. She and Martinez had planned to send a batch of runners to Dubai this winter, but decided to hold off until next year. A return to Goodwood, she says, was also on the cards in 2023. This, however, was skirted to avoid missing key contests at home. 

Annike Bye Hansen-trained Hard One To Please represented Norwegian interests at the Sussex track instead. Jim Crowley guided the son of Fast Company to a Group 3 sixth on Glorious Goodwood Friday. 

Støren has made six entries for the 2024 Norwegian Derby, and the Bling Enterprise arrivals help form a raft of promising recruits for the season ahead. “I know it’s a big thing for a new trainer to dream about winning a Derby,” she admits, “but you can always try. We’ve had some nice recruits coming in, and that has been a great help. It shows that I can improve and maintain the horses in my care.” 

When asked if she can switch off from training, Støren is swift in response. “No,” she laughs. “I don’t stop working.” Støren admits spending every minute with her partner can be challenging, given they not only work in the same industry but in the same yard. “It’s part of being a trainer,” she clarifies. “Even when you try to think about something else, in the back of your mind you’re always planning the next race. Owners call, or you spend time looking at horses for sale. I love horses, so I like life that way. We have good owners, and the future looks bright. There are many young horses who haven’t been out yet. I hope we can accomplish great things with them later this year.”