Nestled just a stone’s throw from the Membury services M4, and
overlooking the Lambourn Valley lies Kingswood House Stables.
Trainer Owen
Burrows, one time National Hunt jockey to the likes of David Nicholson and Josh
Gifford,more recently assistant trainer to Sir Michael Stoute, in his first
season on his own has been entrusted to train for one of the prolific owners of
the racing game Hamdan Al Maktoum.
With the sad loss of John Hills, not only to his family,but also the sport of
Kings, has meant this young first season trainer has been pushed to the forefront
with 70 horses in his care, all capable of winning somewhere in the country,
some capable of picking up the top races.
Aged 26, serving just under half his
life with the master of Freemason Lodge a small, a select group including yours truly, were given the
time and patience from this knowledgeable young gun.
Some fine two year olds on display as we watched the horses
work a steady canter up the self-contained all weather, the trainer having all
that he needs to take things forward. ‘we are self-sufficient here which is
nice, you can hear the hum of the M4 but otherwise peaceful, and that’s how we
like it.’
On a 16% strike rate for the season. 14 winners from 85
runners, the trainer is honest enough to know how lucky he has been, ‘Michael
Hills and Sir Michael Stoute have to be greatly respected for bringing me to the
attention of the owner.’ Or the ‘boss’ as he affectionately calls him.
‘They spoke to Angus Gold, and from that to Hamdan Al Maktoum and here we are, I wake up most mornings feeling incredibly lucky.’
‘They spoke to Angus Gold, and from that to Hamdan Al Maktoum and here we are, I wake up most mornings feeling incredibly lucky.’
All horse looked well, the youngsters on the gallops looked
sharp but calm, the trainer mentioning that on Monday mornings he would be worried
if some were not bucking and squealing. ‘It’s sad to hear Newmarket has some
sort of virus hovering around, I would know straight away if mine were quiet,
touch wood at present all is fine.’
Horses cantered, and described passionately by the trainer.
Owen mentioned how lucky he was to have a good team behind him, ‘Some were here
when I arrived, so I inherited quality which was half the battle.’ The staff
worked quietly, but efficiently around the yard as the trainer walked us by
each and every box in both his older horse and younger horses yards.
On the gallops with the two year olds
Each Sheikh Hamdan's owned horses have a purpose, each well
selected to pick up races and classics, ‘the majority are sourced by the owner
and Angus, I can choose a couple a year from my list, but again the boss and
Angus have the final say.’
The occupants looked calm and content in the smart, modern
surroundings, nothing is left unturned.
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| Owen Burrows explains about his horses |
‘My new addition is the salt chamber,’ Salt being a natural ingredient
is ground by a machine into a fine powder and like an air conditioner the power
is gently put into the air, the horse ingests it and it settles on their coats.
‘It helps the horse get rid of any bad mucus in the lungs and also is good for
the skin, three horses can stand in here at a time and they don’t seem to mind
it.’
The brain child of Tom Taaffe, son of Arkle legend Pat, the ‘salt chamber’ seems to be a positive and growing trend, Sheikh Hamdan setting up a few throughout his racing empire.
The brain child of Tom Taaffe, son of Arkle legend Pat, the ‘salt chamber’ seems to be a positive and growing trend, Sheikh Hamdan setting up a few throughout his racing empire.
How fortunate to be shown individually around such fine
horses, could possibly we have been graced with a few of a classic winner as we
went from box to box?
some horse shown were.
some horse shown were.
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Markaz 4yo By Dark
Angle Out of Folga, By Atraf
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Mezel 5yo By Tamayuz
out of Mumayeza By Indian Ridge
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Okool 2yo By Cape
Cross out of Seschat By Sinndar
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Owen Burrows seems to have a likeable and intelligent nature,you can see why the great and the good of the industry like
him, he gives you time.
And by this I should reckon this would transmit into his training. Patience is need with this game, too rushed and things will break, to slow and things will pass you by. Well you can say for this trainer at Kingswood House he certainly hasn’t let this opportunity pass, gabbed it firmly with both hand and steering it positively forward.
And by this I should reckon this would transmit into his training. Patience is need with this game, too rushed and things will break, to slow and things will pass you by. Well you can say for this trainer at Kingswood House he certainly hasn’t let this opportunity pass, gabbed it firmly with both hand and steering it positively forward.
Is Owen Burrows the new kid on the block for the big time
flat trainers crown, well with the experienced owners behind him who knows, a
possibility I would say, the proof being shown in the pudding, that would put
even Mary Berry to shame.
