Coakley=S Winter Warmed by Combat Cont
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THURSDAY, 8 MARCH, 2018 Coakley has been too long engaged at the wrong end of the COAKLEY=S WINTER numbers game in Britain to deceive himself that this faraway, midwinter coup might achieve a corresponding transformation WARMED BY COMBAT in his own profile. His cheeks ruddy with the cold, the Irishman leads the way into a cramped office and looks ahead to his 20th season with neither illusion nor resentment. "My owners are loyal, they stick with me," he says. "But I've only got 22 horses and it's hard to get any more. If people do show an interest it's usually for me to do a deal. They think if you're a small trainer you should be charging half-price. Yes, it can be frustrating. But I can't do anything about it, so there's no point moaning. I just try and do the best I can with the horses I've got. The only thing that upsets me is if I haven't done something right; if I've missed an opportunity." Coakley has never been the type to cold-call millionaires, and few of those would otherwise seem likely to register such opportunities as he does take. Cont. p2 Denis Coakley | racingfotos.com By Chris McGrath IN TDN AMERICA TODAY As the lacerating wind chases another squall of snow around AGUIAR MAKES HIS CASE AT OBS MARCH his little yard, huddled in the lee of the Berkshire Downs, Denis Steve Sherack speaks with owner turned pinhooker Craig “Sam” Coakley is more grateful than ever that one of its usual residents Aguiar in advance of the OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. has found sanctuary in the desert. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. "You can't take him out even when it's raining," he says. "I know the horse now: he's got ability, it's just a case of keeping him happy. So if he doesn't want to go out, he doesn't have to. And he doesn't like the cold. That's why he loves Dubai. If he were here, he'd be standing in his box doing nothing. Now he's $100,000 richer and, because he's still out there for another week, he's having a holiday." Hors De Combat (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) has certainly earned his vacation. In fact, the handicap he won at Meydan a couple of weeks ago, added to a third prize on his previous start there, matched the entire domestic earnings of Coakley's string in 2017. As such, he represents the perfect poster boy for the Dubai International Carnival. With different shades of Maktoum blue to the fore in so many races, the hospitality plainly stops once the gates open. But the Carnival hosts want to give horsemen at every level the opportunity, if matching the aptitude of even a single horse with sufficient enterprise, for a payday that can--in a case such as this--make a mighty difference to the year's arithmetic. TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 11 • THETDN.COM THURSDAY • 8 MARCH, 2018 His latest discovery is Electric Landlady (Ire) (Red Jazz), who BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS SHARP, cost 7,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale and won two of her four starts last season. "She's rated 84 so will start off in a PRECOCIOUS TWO-YEAR-OLDS, YOU fillies' handicap somewhere and we'll see how she goes," HAVE TO TRY AND FIND A NICE Coakley says. "She's not overbig but she tries." Though he only ran three other juveniles, one of these also INDIVIDUAL YOU JUST THINK WILL BE won and another was third on both her starts. Auspiciously, OKAY AND STAY SOUND. moreover, Coakley's best horses over the years have tended to progress: the likes of Miss Marjurie (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) and Steppe Denis Coakley Dancer (Ire) (Fasliyev), group winners who both carried the same Chris Van Hoorn silks as Hors De Combat. "Hopefully they go on," Coakley says. "Often that's been because they have stayed, so when the handicapper gets to Coakley=s Winter Warmed By Combat Cont. from p1 them for winning at a mile, they have a bit left to go a mile and a After all, he will typically restock with just half a dozen quarter, a mile and a half. Miss Marjurie was very unlucky not yearlings--often only in the four-figure bracket. be placed in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. She was fifth, only beaten a He gestures to a photo on the wall: Sirce (Ire) (Josr Algarhoud length and a half, and had really taken herself off when they {Ire}). "That filly cost three and a half grand," he says. "I thought crossed her in front." she'd win first time out but after four runs I had to persuade the He became acquainted with Van Hoorn during a decade as owners not to get rid of her. She just wanted a distance, and a assistant to William Huntingdon, who used to train here in West visor, and ended up winning seven races and only beaten a neck Ilsley himself. and a head in the Lillie Langtry." Cont. p3 Just along the wall is Percy Jackson (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), bought out of Tattersalls Book 3 for 6,000gns. He bolted up in two of his first three starts, finished second in a listed race in Germany and was sold to Hong Kong. "I have two homebreds this year but normally I have to go and buy yearlings myself, and hopefully sell them on," he says. "So I can't be paying too much for them. You have to decide what you can cross off. Most times, it'll have to be pedigree. Fillies are probably cheaper as well. And because everyone wants sharp, precocious 2-year-olds, you have to try and find a nice individual you just think will be okay and stay sound. Not too backward, though. You want something that can run and hopefully win at two, and then go on. Anyway usually I buy a nice one every year." Hors de Combat training in Dubai | racingfotos.com TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 11 • THETDN.COM THURSDAY • 8 MARCH, 2018 Coakley=s Winter Warmed By Combat Cont. In fact Keeper's Stable was then used as a quarantine unit for Drum Taps (Dixieland Band) and Arabian Story (GB) (Sharrood) when they were being prepared for the Melbourne Cup. As it happens, it had been in Australia that Coakley first crossed paths with Huntingdon and worked for him at Warwick Farm. All in all, his Turf education was certainly a varied one, and for a long time focused on jumpers. "I lost my claim riding for Gordon Richards in Cumbria," he recalls. "He thought I was quite Vice President, International Operations good for a while. I rode Little Bay against [triple champion Gary King hurdler] See You Then at Doncaster; I was only beaten a neck Twitter: @garykingTDN and was meant to ride him again. But I broke my arm and [John] [email protected] Francome got on him." + 1.732.320.0975 Coakley also rode for a leading American jumps trainer in Janet International Editor Elliot, for three years, before a winter with Neil Drysdale Kelsey Riley signalled a switch to the Flat. Though it was never a practical Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN possibility to stay out there, Coakley admits that the American [email protected] model makes more economic sense for the smaller string. "All you need is a bridle and saddle, you pay your stall rent, European Editor and that's it," he says. "And the training is so easy, too, you just Emma Berry go to the track, do your work, go back; everyone knows what Twitter: @collingsberry they're doing. And you can always concentrate on your best [email protected] horses, all the ones you're breaking or whatever are on the Associate International Editor farm." Heather Anderson He has duly enjoyed sampling something similar when Twitter: @HLAndersonTDN commuting to Dubai. Hors De Combat arrived in Coakley's yard from James Fanshawe in November 2016 to be trained for last Marketing Manager year's Carnival, where he likewise made the frame in both Alayna Cullen starts. Twitter: @AlaynaCullen "The international quarantine barn is run by Feargal Cooper [email protected] and they look after you very well," Coakley says. "We get a Contributing Editor groom, accommodation and meals thrown in. Our horse's work Alan Carasso rider Abdul Aziz is very capable, and I'll go out three or four Twitter: @EquinealTDN times to see him work. It's just a shame there wasn't another race for him. Going back to dirt there has restricted Carnival Cafe Racing options for the Europeans, but Hors De Combat ran well after Sean Cronin coming home last year and hopefully he'll have a good summer Tom Frary ahead. [email protected] "He has often been a bit unlucky, coming too late or getting Irish Correspondent stopped, but the race the other day worked out for him-in the Daithi Harvey end, though first he missed the break and then the jockey dropped his stick. Generally on the turf there you can't be too Regular Columnists far away, but fortunately they went off quick and then Richard Andrew Caulfield Hannon's horse kicked too soon and they all chased him. And he John Berry ran for hands-and-heels. He just took a bit of time to kick in Kevin Blake around the two marker, but that's him and then he cruised Tom Peacock through really." Cont.