the spear’s 500 // equine the spear’s 500 // equine

Watson was the leading buyer in a more open and informative you could buy into a horse Europe of bloodstock at public trainer than most and according like Harbinger, which carried auction. His knowledge of to the Racing Post is ‘one of the ’s colours to Royal bloodstock and racing is second sport’s great communicators’. Ascot success in 2010, followed to none in the business and his The Los Angeles Times referred up in the King George and was client base ranges from royal to him as ‘Cary Grant in Ernie sold for a seven figure sum to families to the smallest of El’s body. He is the Big Easy with Japan. syndicates and he is always a sly smile, a wry wit, and a Mette and willing to share his expertise. charismatic charm.’ Michel Gordon-Watson is featured in Tony Newbery Assouline the Tatler Racing Power List of and Fiona Assouline 2014 and is highly regarded by Harry Herbert Dunning Dressage his peers. According Sir Michael Highclere Ashbourne Stoute (ten times International Outstanding Mette and trainer), ‘he is a horseman with Racing Stables in Field Michel great knowledge,’ while Lord COMPANY SIZE Assouline are and Lady Lloyd Webber refer Outstanding The honourable Tony Newbery International distinguished a classically Charlie Gordon-Watson to his ‘invaluable assistance in in Field Harry Herbert, individuals and Fiona Focus trained husband Charles Gordon-Watson Bloodstock the development of our racing COMPANY SIZE the second son COMPANY SIZE Dunning training International International horses and and wife team and breeding interests. We very of the Queen’s established riders Focus Focus dedicated to the in prize money. In 2005 he much enjoy dealing with him.’ racehorse late racing equine invest- their thriving training of both horses and riders was awarded the International ownership manager, the ments and equestrian syndicates consultancy in the art of dressage and finding Trainer of the Year, at the seventh Earl businesses at horses of international calibre. Horserace Writers and of Carnarvon, whose family Ashbourne International Stables From their base in Essex, Outstanding Andrew Balding Photographers’ Association Independent seat is Highclere Castle, is the in 1991. As well as training horses less than an hour from greater in Field became the Derby lunch. trainer man behind the Highclere and riders up to world-class level COMPANY SIZE London, they offer a full range International licensed trainer His yard in Hampshire boasts Thoroughbred Racing ownership they source horses for clients Harry Herbert of services for the dressage Focus at Kingsclere one of the best equipped and eminence One of Britain’s syndicate which for 22 years with sporting ambition and those enthusiast, from the amateur to racehorse in January most beautiful private training grise top trainers, has been marrying quality flat with an interest in high-return Highclere Thoroughbred Racing training the professional. These include 2003 when he establishments in the world COMPANY SIZE John Gosden racehorses with people with equine investment. International sourcing, training and selling succeeded his with an equine pool, a variety has trained over money, as distinct from the The husband and wife team Focus dressage horses of all levels, and father Ian, to whom he had been of gallops and room for over racehorse 2,500 winners overwhelmingly rich who tend are highly regarded in the with the showjumping industry Classics as well as top races all they have supplied horses to top assistant since 1999. Born in 150 horses. training in his career. He to dominate the racing world. industry. It is their knowledge, for over 30 years as a coach over the globe, including the international riders such as Carl London in 1972, Balding hails won the Derby In 1992, Herbert started experience and ability to and a businesswoman. She is world’s richest horse race, the Hester’s Escapado who competed from a family that is steeped in 1997 and the 1000 Guineas Highclere Thoroughbred Racing recognise quality horses together meticulous with the commercial Dubai World Cup, the Breeders’ in the Athens Olympics. in racing history. His great Charlie in 2000. His most recent which swiftly became European with their discretion and honesty side of the business and ensures Cup Turf, the Japan Cup and the Michel is a graduate of the grandfather Aubrey Hastings Gordon-Watson British Classic win was the 2011 leader in the field of syndication. that make them sought-after the horses that are entrusted to Hong Kong Vase. French National Equestrian was the trainer of four Grand Charles Ladbrokes with As managers of the Royal Ascot equine consultants and agents them have the utmost care. He was last crowned as School, home of the Cadre National winners. His uncles Gordon-Watson Masked Marvel. 2014 has been Racing Club’s horses, Highclere worldwide. Over the years they champion trainer in 2009, when Noir in Saumur and gained and Bloodstock a formidable season for Gosden were also responsible for have been approached to identify his trio of horses — , great international experience Huntingdon have enjoyed with six Group One wins leaving 2005 Vodafone Derby winner, and purchase potential and Sir Michael Tartan Bearer and Ask — pulled in the USA, France, Germany training winners at the highest distinguished Charlie has him at the top of the British . Herbert works closely proven showjumpers for clients Stoute off a rare clean sweep in the King and the United Kingdom as level while his father trained individual been trading Champions Series Trainers with his brother-in-law John for both profit and pleasure.A s Independent George VI and Queen Elizabeth an international dressage rider over 2,000 winners including COMPANY SIZE independently Rankings. Warren buying yearlings, as well as the knowledge and skills trainer Stakes. International and trainer. He has won UK the legendary . as a bloodstock Gosden studied economics well as in many other areas of they possess expertise to know He trained , the 1981 Focus Dressage trainer of the year Andrew’s sister is TV and racing breeding, agent since 1985 at Cambridge University but the industry. when horses are at their highest eminence A dominant Derby winner who was later and since 2005 has been coach presenter . bloodstock and is now claims that he never considered HTR has been particularly sale value and the contacts within grise force in British stolen and never found, and of the most successful UK Balding spent some of his early consistently doing anything else. Training adept at drawing in celebrity the industry to realise the sales to COMPANY SIZE flat racing showed his versatility by training boutique para-dressage team in history. years learning the ropes with his among the top five yearling racehorses, he says, was ‘in the names, new to racing, who have the best clientele. and one of the Kribensis over the jumps to Focus Mette is a former member uncle Toby — he also acted as buyers in Europe. His blood’. He started his career brought the media spotlight Tony is recognised as one of racehorse all-time greats, became the only winner of of the Danish dressage team amateur jockey for him, winning achievements include acting as as assistant to two of the most along with them. Those who showjumping’s finest horsemen training Sir Michael the , and now a successful rider and twenty races. On taking over at agent on the acquisition of ten successful trainers in history, have done business with having had an illustrious has been the and the trainer. She still competes herself Kingsclere he enjoyed a dream Classic winners including Epsom Vincent O’Brien and Sir Noel Highclere in the past include competitive career representing champion trainer ten times and , known as and trains others on the start, landing the Oaks with Derby winner Kris Kin and the Murless, before moving to Heston Blumenthal, Sir Alex his country on numerous the only trainer in the twentieth the Triple Crown of Hurdling, international circuit. Fluent Casual Look in his first season. winner of the 2000 Guineas at California in 1979 where he Ferguson, Lawrence Dallaglio, occasions including Olympic century to win an English Classic in the same season. in Danish, German and English, His other major success came Newmarket, King’s Best, who is stayed for nearly a decade with Kenny and Gabby Logan, Mike team selection in 1976. Now in five successive seasons.H e In 2013 Stoute claimed the she has produced many top level courtesy of , now a successful sire. Gordon much success. He returned in Tindall and Hugh Bonneville. accredited, he is one of the claimed his fifth victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with young horses both at home and who won five of sixteen starts, Watson has purchased 34 1989 to set up base in Herbert describes HTR as leading coaches for riders Investec Derby with Estimate, owned by Her Majesty. abroad and is an experienced including three Group One races individual Group One winners of Newmarket where he remains offering a sort of ‘hand-holding and best producers of horses in 2010 who went on to win the The horse was narrowly beaten dressage judge of young dressage in Canada, Hong Kong and 46 Group One races worldwide. today at Clarehaven Stables. service’ for newcomers to the throughout Europe. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. in the same race at Royal Ascot horse classes. Dubai, and almost £2 million In 2010 and 2011 Gordon- Gosden is considered as racing game. If you’re lucky Fiona has been involved Stoute has won all the English this year.

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Roger Weatherby Oliver Townend Weatherbys

Ad 24 - Gordon Watson As well as selling horses, Oliver Townend he offers a variety of horse Oliver Townend ownership opportunities and syndicates. If you have dreams Caroline Wilkes eminence International of seeing your horse at the IN Showjumpers grise event rider Olympics, Townend could COMPANY SIZE International Townend is be your ticket. Focus ranked ninth seconded to the Wilks has been involved in riding, in the world as a director from 1990-1992, the equestrian industry all her equestrianism and British Johnny and and returned to Weatherbys life. For fifteen years she held number one. He’s made several Roger as chairman of the group and private client and corporate appearances on the British team Weatherby the bank in 1993. He is Her global management roles with and won both Badminton and Weatherbys Majesty’s representative and two international banks with Burghley horse trials in 2009. chairman of , bases in the Isle of Man. Latterly, The son of a milkman from Outstanding The Weatherbys’ and a member of the Jockey she focused on business and Huddersfield, he was 21 when in Field name has been Club. product development, working he set up his first equestrian COMPANY SIZE synonymous Roger Weatherby joined with international legal and International business, riding and selling with horse Weatherbys as a non-executive accountancy firms inL ondon, Focus horses with just £1,400 to his equestrian racing since director in 1993. He joined the Dublin and other major cities. name. By the age of 25, he had accounting 1770. Johnny group board as an executive Seven years ago Wilks left and banking bought his first 40 acre farm and Roger director in 1998 and became the finance sector to manage, in Shropshire. are the seventh generation chief executive of Weatherbys refocus and develop the family Townend combines of the family, and in 1995 Bank in 2000. Prior to joining equestrian business. During this extraordinary riding talent they refused to rest on their Weatherbys, he worked for time she saw the opportunities with a dogged determination laurels by diversifying into Cazenove & Co. He is chairman showjumping offered with its and commercial mind, a rare private banking in addition of the Racing Foundation and growing popularity worldwide combination in the world of to their racing services. senior steward of The Jockey with increased financial eventing with its royal and Weatherbys provide a Club. commitment to the sport and top aristocratic connections. He comprehensive range of high horses commanding high prices. explains his philosophy on quality, specialised banking and Wilks has a strong mix the sport and business: ‘I’m out accounting services for clients Caroline Wilks of business acumen, to win the biggest competitions involved in the horseracing IN ShowJumpers entrepreneurial skills and in the world. At the same time, and bloodstock industries. interpersonal skills and brings if I am offered a huge amount They favour the one-to-one distinguished Caroline Wilks to the company over 25 years of money for a horse, together approach and provide full individual is managing of product development, with the owners we have to narrative statements, secure COMPANY SIZE director of IN management and operations uk make a choice. online banking as well as a Showjumpers. experience from the finance Focus ‘I made enough money to put telephone helpdesk staffed by an showJumper Together and equestrian industries. down a deposit on the farm by experienced and knowledgeable trading with Olympic With her business background, selling horses that no one else team. All normal day to day showjumper combined with the equestrian would sell. There was money banking transactions can be Henk Nooren and leading expert expertise and contacts brought out there to buy these potential handled, including direct debits, and agent Duncan Inglis they by Nooren and Inglis, Wilks has top-class horses but no one standing orders and domestic as set up the company to acquire, generated attractive returns for was willing to sell them. I had well as international transfers. produce and trade showjumpers the investors. The five horses sold to sell them because I needed Johnny Weatherby joined of the highest calibre for so far by the company have given the money.’ Weatherbys in 1979. He was significant profit. a net return of 83 per cent. S

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