| Meet the Team | |
 |
SERGIO GORDON-WATSON (ASSISTANT TRAINER) Sergio comes from a family steeped in racing history. His involvement with horses started through pony club and hunting, this then developed into working for point to point trainers. He had rides both pointing and under rules and enjoyed his first winner in a point to point for Suzy. This was also Suzy's first winner when she worked for Clive Bennett in Gloucestershire. Suzy first met Sergio when he was working for Diana Grissell in Sussex and they both went out to France where he worked for Nicolas Clement and Madame Criquette-Head. He then came back and worked with Suzy at Clive Bennett's and the late Mr D Caro's before joining Anna Newton-Smith for two seasons as Assistant Trainer. He has been Assistant Trainer here for most of the last nine years and we work very well together. Sergio takes good care of the gallops and schooling field and is an excellent all round horseman. He is very personable and is well liked by all the owners. His hobbies include hunting, shooting, rock climbing and watching Chelsea play. His other passion is going out with the yard's lucky mascots - the dogs Lurch and Trixie. |
 |
ANGELO GASNIER - AMATEUR JOCKEY (FRANCE) Angelo, 20, will be riding most of our horses in France this year. He will also be seen riding for us in England and is coming to work here over part of the winter period. He has been Champion Amateur Rider in France for the last two years and specialises in Cross Country Races. He also rides on the flat. His father used to train trotters and Angelo started out by riding them. The family have now switched to training jump horses on a small level near to Lion d'Angers. Angelo is a very gifted rider and I would say it would be a rare occurrence to see him become unseated. He will turn professional once he has completed his environmental degree this year. He has ridden all across Europe as part of the Fegentri series representing France, so is no stranger to riding over here. He is currently working on his English at which he is much better than he thinks! |
TOM CANNON - CONDITIONAL JOCKEY (ENGLAND) Tom started riding ponies from the age of three with both is mother and grandmother both riding in point to points and his mother working in racing. He did pony racing, show jumping and eventing as a teenager and began pointing from the age of sixteen. He has been the Champion National Novice Point to Point rider, Champion South East Point to Point rider and runner up in the Amateur tiltle in 2010/2011 season. Last year he rode six winners out of twenty runners for us with numerous placings. He is a very good rider who is sure to be a big name in the future and is excellent value for his 5lb claim. He sits very well over a fence and horses seem to improve for him. He has spent a year and a half working for David Pipe, was with Alan Flemming last season before turning conditional this season. He will be riding plenty for us this year. |
|
 |
GIOVANNI RAPISARDA (STABLE STAFF) Gio, aged 19, lives in Eastbourne and has been with us around three years having come to us from the British Racing School in Newmarket. He had previously started out at weekends helping Gary Moore and had ridden ponies before that. He has become a valuable member of the team and in that time he has become an excellent work rider and is very good around the horses. He is loyal and dedicated and is sure to progress his way further up the ranks in time. He is half way through his NVQ 3 and is now able to back and break in, school over fences / hurdles, clip, notice and treat injuries and is able to give good feed back both in the yard and in his understanding of how a horse is going. He is a very natural rider. He had is first two rides in point to points last year and has since grown in confidence. |
MATT WATERHOUSE (VET - ARUNDEL EQUINE HOSPITAL) Matt has been the vet here since I started and is extremely thorough. He is one of the Partners at The Arundel Equine Hospital and deals with many racing yards across the South. The practice is very well thought of and is the choice for racecourse vets for many of the local tracks including Plumpton, Fontwell, Brighton and Goodwood. We are lucky to have them so close. Matt is also very good at communicating directly with owners when further investigations are necessary. It is essential to have a good vet that is also able to move with the times and his brother is a vet at a large practice in Newmarket so we always are aware of the latest practices that are being introduced by the Sheiks! If need be cases will always be referred to the best specialists in the country. |
|
STEVIE FISHER (FARRIER) Stevie has been the farrier here for a few years now and has a team of farriers and apprentices that work under him. He does a great job and is an outstanding remedial farrier and played a big part with the success we had with Missoula as her feet were possibly the most difficult I think both he and I had ever come across! Many people often comment on how well balanced the horses' feet are and this obviously takes away a greater risk of having both suspensory, ligament and tendon problems in the lower leg. He also is a part owner of Hudibras! |
|
CARL DUGGAN (EQUINE DENTIST) Carl who is originally from Limerick, now lives in Hickstead and has competed in show jumping and now breeds sports horses. The horses' teeth are done routinely normally every six months. Carl is the best and most thorough equine dentist I have ever come across. He will be able say straight away if the horse pulls, is a poor eater, turns its head one way being ridden etc. It is essential the teeth are maintained as not only will the horse become in pain if they are not looked after, they can cause horses problems such as loss of weight through poor eating, pain in the temples, cause horses to be one sided and hang and through an altered head carriage this can then lead to muscle and back problems. |
|
 |
Lurch: The Lucky Mascot Lurch enjoys keeping the gallops rabbit hole free and always comes racing. He also enjoys Lurcher racing where he has had one win and one 4th. |
 |
Trixie: Companion to Lurch Trixie has been watching and learning from Lurch and acts as a rabbit catching assistant. |