Sara Bradstock Steps into National Hunt Training with Vision and Legacy
She was instrumental in career of Gold Cup winner Coneygree, trained by her late husband, Mark.
Sara Bradstock has officially joined the National Hunt training ranks, receiving her full licence to continue the operation she once shared with her late husband, Mark Bradstock. Based at Old Manor Stables near Wantage, Sara is preparing to saddle her first runners with the invaluable assistance of her daughter, Lily, who has played a crucial role in the family-run business and is poised to inherit the trainer’s badge in the future.
CONEYGREE 🔴⚪️
The novice that won the Cheltenham Gold Cup 😲pic.twitter.com/HHEl2inInR
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) January 13, 2022
Lily's contributions to the stables have been significant, particularly in the success of Southfield Theatre, a remarkable champion point-to-pointer at 14 who also excelled at the Cheltenham United Hunts fixture. "Lily's role is massive; she works incredibly hard and adores the horses," Sara commented. "She has been with us solidly since she left school, riding as an amateur and developing her skills, all while managing her top eventer, Tout Chocolat. Horses simply love her."
While Sara intends to uphold the tradition of nurturing elite staying chasers, she also aims to run a more commercially viable operation. Currently, she is in the process of syndicating one of her most promising young prospects. Under the watchful eye of Coneygree, the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup champion whose victory was a pinnacle moment for Mark's training career, Sara is evaluating the potential of her string.
Among the horses in her care, she has high hopes for Mr Vango, who recently secured third place in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival in March. "Mr Vango is heading for the Welsh Grand National; that race seems perfect for him as he loves getting his toes into the ground and possesses the strength and power to plough through it," Sara explained. "I purchased him for 30,000 guineas after a point-to-point win, and he’s a big horse standing over 18 hands tall. His performance at Exeter was very impressive, and I believe he could have finished second in the four-miler if it were still run over that distance."
The historic Letcombe Bassett yard is steeped in tradition, with Sara noting, "Golden Miller was trained here and remains the only horse to win both a Gold Cup and a Grand National in the same season. We also sent out Carruthers, bred by my father (Lord Oaksey), to win the Hennessy and Step Back to win the Whitbread. Coneygree, who has had fragile legs, managed to maintain his fitness with rehabilitation on the roads and training on our grass Greendown gallop."
Sara has ambitious plans for the future, including launching a racing club named The Remembering Mark Racing Club, centred around a horse by Chemical Charge. "The idea is to gather 30 individuals who will each contribute £2,500, covering all expenses for the season along with a share in the horse," she said.
Reflecting on the profound influence Mark had on their training operation, Sara added, "We have always trained and cared for the horses as a partnership, and I will continue to consult him whenever needed. His wise words remain with me every step of the way."
