Trainer looks ahead to promising season

Although the yard originally started out just with National Hunt horses, in the last two seasons its runners on the level have made people sit up and take note.

During 2005, the yard increased its winners, runners and prizemoney, with more than 50 per cent of runners collecting some prize money.

Although the best two-year-old, Safari Sunrise, failed to win, he was placed six times, including the Listed National Stakes at Sandown, for which he was rated 93 and got his name in prestigious black type. He broke the track record at Salisbury, only to be beaten on the line by Salut D'Amour, and has now moved on to race in Hong Kong.

The lowest rated two'“year'“old in the yard, My Lady Valentine, managed to win a small race and Brazilian Style had three near'“misses before bursting a blood vessel on the gallops. but will be ready to run again in Spring.

"We have currently got 14 yearlings in and by the time the season starts we will have 22 to run on the Flat, with about the same number of National Hunt horses," said Anton.

He added: "Jump horses are a longer term investment and winners are harder to come by, especially when the handicapper gets hold of them. Unless you have a very good horse that comes up slowly through the ranks, with a sequence of wins, it is a very costly business for the owner.

"Many people want more immediate results, and with younger people coming into racing, and enjoying watching their horses at the likes of Windsor on a warm summer's evening, there is a lot of interest in Flat runners."

Full story in West Sussex Gazette December 29