TopSpec Trainer of the Quarter – SIR MARK PRESCOTT BT.

Article by Giles Anderson

Heath House Stables in Newmarket has been the only yard our deserved TopSpec Trainer of the Quarter, Sir Mark Prescott, has trained from during his fifty-three years with a training licence.

Britain’s longest serving trainer has produced many horses at the highest level. Consider the fact that he operates with a self imposed limit of fifty horses under his care at any given time and his record seems even more impressive.

Over time, Prescott has worked closely with many leading owner breeders - none more so than Kirsten Rausing. Over the years, they have produced the likes of Albanova and Alborada to score at the highest level.

In 2019 a filly named Alpinista, made her racecourse debut on July 18th at Epsom. The debut was a winning one. Prescott wouldn’t necessarily be a trainer you would associate with winning debutantes, so many took note of this performance. The Racing Post reported that Alpinista; “dwelt, in touch in 5th, slightly green when asked for effort over 2f out, soon closed to lead over 1f out, pushed clear, unchallenged after”.

It would be fair to say that the five horses who finished behind her, haven’t exactly set the form book alight since. The same can’t be said for Alpinista.

Her subsequent start at Goodwood in August (2019) proved to be her only start where she finished out of the first four - when finishing 6th in the Gp.3 Prestige Stakes.

Winning ways resumed the following August (2020) when scoring in the Listed Upavon Fillies Stakes at Salisbury.

In 2021 Alpinista simply dominated the German Gp.1 races, with victories in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, the 59th running of the Preis von Europa and the Grosser Preis von Bayern.

Prescott, has always been a devotee of the European Pattern, looking further afield to pick up (in his own words) “cheap black type” for the fillies in his care. But little did he know when Alpinista beat Torquator Tasso and Walton Street in the Grosser Preis von Berlin what impact this race would have and cement Alpanista as the filly of her generation.

Walton Street ran two places better on his next start in Toronto when a fascicle 5 3/4 length winner of the Gr.1 Pattison Canadian International.

Torquator Tasso went onto frank the form in a duo of Gp.1 races -  the prestigious Grosser Preis von Baden before a ‘shock’ win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The only person who probably wasn’t suffering from shock on the first Sunday in October 2021 was Sir Mark Prescott - he now knew he now had a serious filly in his care.

When the actual plan was hatched to aim Alpanista for the 2022 running of the Arc de Triomphe one will never know. But one can safely bet that by the time the 2022 Pattern Book dropped through the letterbox at Heath House Stables, Prescott had already worked out her plan for 2022.

Fast forward to the build up for the 2022 Arc and anyone who has enjoyed the shere entertainment of Prescott’s company will have enjoyed the build up for the race. With Prescott providing a level of light relief, regaling stories of previous voyages to France and the disappointment of defeat that most such ventures result in.

But in Alpanista’s victory in the 2022 Arc de Triomphe we got to celebrate the victory of two of the greatest proponents of the European Pattern in Sir Mark and Kirsten Rausing. 

Alpanista was retired in November to embark on her next career as a broodmare at Lanwades Stud. 

Her final race record reads as; 15 starts, 10 victories - with 6 in Gp.1 company - coming in three different countries. Quite a record.

Have horse, why travel?

Alpinista with Luke Morris wins the Longines 131.Grossen Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten racecourse, 2021

By Lissa Oliver

It used to be a case of “have horse, will travel” for some globetrotting trainers, when internationally renowned races and global competition could really put them, and their horse, on the map. We didn’t know how good the southern hemisphere sprinters were until they arrived at Ascot; and we didn’t know how good the European middle-distance and staying horses were until they travelled to Australia or were exported to Hong Kong. Now we’re seeing Japanese horses as a force to be reckoned with, and they’re not travelling for prize money. The big stage establishes the big player.

But still, global competition was only for the big players and stardom was the attraction, not money. The Gp. 1 champions competing abroad had earned their airfare already. Those below simply couldn’t afford to travel to take them on.

With the two recent problems—the global pandemic and the more localised Brexit—travel should have become harder and, indeed, we’ve seen from past pages here that travel between France, Ireland and Britain—the busiest thoroughbred routes—has decreased quite significantly as a result.

For many trainers, however, those problems have not been a deterrent. The lucrative prizes abroad are worth the added effort and paperwork to plunder. Whether there are smaller yards trying to target better prize money to pay their way or owners seeking black type for their horses, a more flexible approach to the programme can pay dividends—especially for those who think out of the box and look further afield or to lesser-known countries.

Sir Mark Prescott is a prime example of using the European race programme to enhance the stud value of his horses. He is already synonymous with working backwards from a big handicap target to ensure the most efficient and beneficial preparation possible. Now he is transferring those tactics to target what might be perceived as Europe’s less competitive Gp. 1 races.

The race of the season in 2021 turned out to be at Hoppegarten at the beginning of August when Alpinista won the Gp. 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin for Sir Mark Prescott and owner-breeder Miss Kirsten Rausing, winning €106,900 as well as enhanced black type.

More interestingly, finishing second that afternoon was Torquator Tasso, trained by Marcel Weiss. And we all know what he did next, taking the Gp. 1 Grosser Preis von Baden en route to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. In third place was Charlie Appleby’s Walton Street, who won the Gr. 1 Canadian International on his next start. Alpinista meanwhile continued on her unbeaten season to claim the Gp. 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne in September and the Gp. 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich in November, taking her earnings to €509,314 in the process.

That was a nice case of black type and prize money, but even for the lower grade horse that doesn’t aspire to Pattern level, there are lucrative opportunities beyond Britain where many trainers are struggling to cope with what amounts to the ‘poor relation’ in prize money terms.

Amy Murphy is just one of several British trainers to open a satellite yard in France, where she describes the prize money as ‘out of this world’. Gay Kelleway and Paul George are among those to also cite prize money as the motivation, as well as the additional temporary fix of avoiding Brexit issues with French runners.

Over-wintering horses in Dubai is popular with those that can afford to do so, but France also offers a more cost-effective chance to get winter sun on their backs while competing for prize money that is higher than the average British winter all-weather handicap. Marie-Laure Treal, assistant director at Cagnes sur Mer, tells us, “Until 13 March, the Winter Meeting of the Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur offers 59 race meetings. Trainers may rent boxes for the period at €50 per box per month and accommodation is offered for stable staff, allocated according to the different requests and availability.”

While France is the obvious choice when looking for increased earning potential, other nations are also trying to attract international attention with eye-catching purses. As Irish trainer Adrian McGuinness points out in relation to Meydan’s Gp. 1 Al Quoz Sprint, “There's €700,000 on offer to the winner. I could win more in one race than I won in the whole season in Ireland last year, despite the fact I had the best campaign of my life.” He also points out that the runner-up prize of €300,000 is higher than the winner’s purse in the Gp. 1 Prix de l’Abbaye.

With emerging countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and even Libya using money to secure their instant place in the international calendar, trainers need to be more broad-minded than ever when planning campaigns.

The Belgian Galop Federation has many racing opportunities with prize money from 5000-800 Euros

Many opportunities for an average rated horse are much closer to home and easier to target. The prize money might not be eye-watering, but neither is the competitiveness in comparison to similar races at home.

Marcel De Bruyne, MvG, Belgian Galop Federation, tells us, “Our showpiece—the Prince Rose, a National Listed Race over 2100m—will be run in Ostend in August with total prize money of €12,800, with €8,000 for the winner.

“This race is open for three-year-olds and older who have never been placed in the first five of a Pattern race. The weights are 52.5kg for three-year-olds and 56kg for four-year-olds and older. Horses that have won or been placed second or third in minor races will have to carry extra weight.

“Some other races can be interesting for foreign runners in Ostend. The four races I highlight each have a total prize money of €8,000, with €5,000 for the winner. Three conditions races in July and August are the Miler Cup, 1600m; the Prijs Half Oogst & BFG Galop, 1800m; and the Prijs BFG & Nymphenburger, 2200m. 

“They are for four-year-old horses and older without a handicap value or a value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs) and they carry 55kg (121 Ibs). Penalties for prize money received for wins and places since 1 July 2021 are 1kg per €1,000.

The Gr.3 Stockholm Cup - Sweden’s major race, run at Bro Park in September and worth 155000 Euros

“Then we have one handicap, the UAE Sprint Cup over 1000m in August for four-year-olds and older with a handicap value equal or lower than 30kg.”

See the the complete list of races and conditions here: www.bgalopf.be/Meetings.htm

Scandinavia offers a great deal of potential and Svensk Galopp highlights for foreign visitors the 2400m Gr. 3 Stockholm Cup—Sweden’s major race—run at Bro Park in September and worth €155,000. The Svensk Derby is worth €120,289, the Listed Zawawi Cup €48,282; and supporting races include the Listed Lanwades Stud Stakes, Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship and the 1400m Appel Au Maitre Svealandlöpning—the latter being Sweden's most important two-year-old race, often attracting foreign runners. Svensk Galopp is a rising star in the racing world with plans for another new course project in Skåne.

Norway’s Ovrevoll hosts the Norsk Derby in August with a value of 121970 Euros, and the Oslo Cup in Junne with a value of 53000 Euros

In Norway, the Norsk Derby at Ovrevoll in August has a value of €121,970 and the Gp.3 Oslo Cup in June a value of €53,000.

Spain is another country on our doorstep but perhaps off the radar. The Madrid Grand Prix over 2500m at the end of June is the major summer highlight, worth €60,000. They race most of the year, with a break from 29 December to 6 March. 

The autumn-winter season begins 11 September, the highlight being Champions Day 16 October. The Champions Day card includes the Gran Premio Memorial Duque de Toledo, over 2400m with a value of €68,000; and the Gran Premio Ruban, over 1200m worth €40,800; as well as a strong supporting card and lucrative added premiums of €5,000 for Spanish-breds.

The premiums are always a boost, and every European country contributing to the European Breeders Fund also hosts a wide range of races aimed to improve opportunities at a grassroots level. 

Rachael Gowland of the British EBF tells us, “If a horse finishes sixth or better in any of the EBF races in Britain, it will be eligible to enter for one of the two finals. Each final is run over 7f and has a value of £100,000, with prize money down to eighth place. 

“The colts’ and geldings’ final will be at York Friday 7 October and the fillies’ final at Goodwood Tuesday 6 September. The EBF is contributing £50,000 for each race, and we were very lucky that York and Goodwood both came back to us and offered to match our prize fund.

“The EBF is a cooperative, and all member jurisdictions benefit from a pool of international stallion registrations; an EBF-registered horse is qualified to run in EBF races in any member country.”

Simon Sweeting, chairman of the British EBF, explains, “With a reduction in racing in 2020, came a small surplus of funds for the British EBF. The trustees were keen to make sure that this money was re-focused to do the maximum good it could for the industry. This series not only provides tantalising prize money targets but also aims to add the EBF’s weight to encouraging owners to re-invest at the yearling sales. With no early closing stages and over 100 chances to qualify a horse, we hope that owners and trainers will support this new initiative.”

In Ireland, the Median Sires Series consists of 26 races each worth a minimum €25,000. The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes is the showcase.

The Irish EBF Auction Series for two-year-olds bought at auction for €72,000 or less is worth a minimum of €20,000 per race and has two finals, the main one worth €120,000. The Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series and Irish EBF Auction Bumper cater for the National Hunt horses in a similar fashion.