HUGO PALMER’S move to Manor House Stables was the worst kept secret in racing.
The deal is done and Michael Owen has his man – but he almost didn’t.
Palmer, 41, turned a switch to leafy Cheshire from the hustle and bustle of Newmarket down not once, but TWICE before he was finally convinced.
Money’s not an issue for the classic-winning trainer, he’s never had to search down the side of the couch for a few coppers.
So Owen sold him a life up north away from the dominance of a few powerhouse stables that are starting to squeeze the second-level trainers out of the big prizes.
Palmer told me: “It wasn’t an easy decision, far from it. I turned Michael down twice so that tells you all you need to know.
“We had a meeting in both December and January and both times I said no. Then I was away on holiday with my wife and he tried again.
“We took stock and ultimately it was too good an opportunity, even if it would involve a lot of personal upheaval for my family and I.”
Back in 2016 Palmer was the talk of Newmarket after Galileo Gold stormed to a famous 2000 Guineas win under Frankie Dettori, the season after Covert Love had really put Palmer on the map.
He trained over 140 horses then, but was down to just half that last season. Racing is a fashionable game.
Convincing all his major owners to make the move was the hardest part for Palmer and he clocked up the air miles to woo them into submission.
It worked and he’s moving the majority of his team from last year up north, as well as taking over most of Tom Dascombe’s old string. He’s back to nearly 140 horses at the click of his fingers.
He said: “I need to get back in the top ten, Michael and I want to build a real powerhouse operation.
“There’s a lot of money in this part of the world, there’s enthusiasm for racing to go with that and hopefully we can get these people to have horses with us.”
Palmer’s first runner from his new yard will likely be at Doncaster this Saturday and he’s already planning on going straight to the 2000 Guineas with stable star Dubawi Legend via a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting – the exact same route Galileo Gold took.
Palmer, the new Lord of the Manor, will be hoping history repeats itself.
CIEREN FALLON JR’S new gig as number one rider at Qatar Racing is already causing him a headache. The youngster is in line to ride hot Lincoln favourite Mujtaba for trainer William Haggas but may be needed to ride at Kempton instead in a poxy novice race. Fallon will put the unbeaten four-year-old through an important piece of work this morning and then pray his bosses let him ride the horse on Saturday. Adam Farragher and Stevie Donohoe are snapping at his heels if he’s sent to Surrey instead.
THE Flat season kicks off at Doncaster on Saturday… or does it?
Nearly 20 top jockeys from this neck of the woods will be in Dubai for World Cup night and it took me ten minutes online to work out the jockeys’ championship doesn’t start until Guineas weekend.
So when does the Flat season start? Your guess is as good as mine…
Frankie Dettori was at Cheltenham last week to enjoy the Festival
WILLIAM MUIR has booked Frankie Dettori to ride Pyledriver in the £2.6 million Sheema Classic at Meydan this Saturday. Stable jockey Martin Dwyer took a nasty fall on the gallops recently and is set for a spell on the sidelines with a crocked knee. Dwyer is awaiting the scan results before saying when he’ll be back but the Muir camp are confident their Pyledriver can run into the money this time after a no-show in Saudi Arabia.
NO wonder Tony Bloom was all smiles after Energumene’s Champion Chase win. Once the rain came down on Wednesday a massive bet of £160,000 was placed on the winner with a firm on the south coast and you don’t have to be as shrewd as Bloom to work out where that came from. But the team close to Triumph Hurdle hope Porticello had their fingers burnt after Gary Moore’s youngster could only finish sixth. Over 20 grand was handed over to the bookies and not a penny returned. Ouch.
Tony Bloom was buzzing after Energumene’s win in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham
THE ‘Lads’ at Ballydoyle are purring about The Antarctic, a two-year-old brother to speedball Battaash. Coolmore recently spent £750,000 to buy the mum Anna Law and are expecting big things. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is likely to have him ready for a run in the spring and he’s already hoping he’ll be smart enough to book a ticket on the plane to Royal Ascot.
GOOD WORK
PERSIAN FORCE has been putting a smile on Richard Hannon’s face at home ahead of the Brocklesby (1.15). The rapid two-year-old is owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing and that outfit are desperate to win the race after their Forca Brasil was controversially taken out before the off last season.
Meanwhile those close to GARRUS expect a big run in the Cammidge Trophy (1.50) on Saturday. Trainer Charlie Hills has a knack with sprinters and he reckons this grey can improve again this summer.
