Saturday 21 October 2017

MONSIEUR MENUISIER UNE JOURNEE DE GEAND

The gallops at Coomblands Stables
The only French trainer on the UK circuit David Menuisier trains within the perfect setting of Pulborough West Sussex.

With just over 30 horses in training at Coombelands Racing Stables who the trainer shares with the group one race winning trainer Amanda Perrett.
The shared facility with Amanda Perrett
The trainer who has been assistant to a few of the top class trainers around the world in Christiane Head Maarek in France , Richard Mandella in the States,  and our own legend that is John Dunlop OBE here in the UK has a wealth of experience to take on top flight.

Born in the North east of France the trainer has had aspirations of becoming a trainer since the age of seven, with a passion to set up shop in the UK, and after retirement of his ex Governor John Dunlop, David has set up in the last three years at the impressive clean cut Coombelands  Stables.


With three barns full the trainer started off the new season with all good intentions, but at the early York meeting good horses seemed to be running indifferently, this spread and further investigations showed the yard was in the midst of a low grade virus which  swept the yard.
The horse now fit are fresh and starting to come out may need some time but certainly looked happy and well as i looked freely around the barn at some of David's more cheeky occupants.


With a 10% strike rate, it shows how much of a quite season the trainer has had. Only 83 runners this year with 8 of those in the winner enclosure, David will be hungry to chase down lost time to gather and beat his 15 winners from 2016.

When cursed with the virus some may have tried to continue, with the education from the greats of the game around the world this would not hold for Monsieur Menusisier so he shut up shop as we say in the game to fight another day.
'All the horse had was gentle exercise on the roads for some time,' mentioned the ex racing manager Davids old boss John Dunlop who has become as he mentions something of a bit of a shoulder to cry on for the new trainer, as well as our guide for the morning.

The trainer not being able to be in the UK due to the continued looking and examination of new blood for the team in his home country, was very happy for me to watch his third lot canter up the wide open perfect gallops situated a stones throw from the stable entrance.


David Menuisier's horse at steady exercise for a Thursday third lot





















The horses well cared for by a small but friendly team, as all teams are as i go around the yards.  Go about their daily chores with a quite, determined professionalism.

Horse to watch for over the coming months with the trainer already eyes firmly on the 2018 season with two early doors entries in the 2018 Derby, Cacphonous by Cacique and a possible early indication run at Newbury this weekend. And Battle of Issus by Declaration of War.
Also Strawberry Lace, by Sea the Stars out of a Holy Roman Emperor mare who the stable feel may be their secret weapon, this filly running early in the week at Yarmouth.




All in all i felt a well balance yard, with a fresh and calm approach, still early doors at the moment for the trainer but i feel a positive future, and certainly one to watch.

You can see more images and read more blogs of several stable visits throughout the year at