Mark won the curtain-raiser for the 2008 season with Smokey Oakey in the Lincoln Handicap. They were victorious again in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown for owners Judi Dench and Bryan Agar. And in June Mark went on to celebrate his 900th winner.
Year on year Mark sends out top-class horses to reap rewards on the racetrack:
2007 - Group 3 Middleton Stakes, York – won by Topatoo (Also in the same year: Second in the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes; Fourth in the Listed Gala Stakes; now retired as a broodmare based at Dullingham Park Stud)
2006 – Gp 2 Duke of York Stakes, York – won by Steenberg (bought by Mark for 12,000gns and earned over £220,000 prize-money for his owners; Also Won: Listed Wentworth Stakes; Second: Group 2 Duke of York Stakes twice, Group 3 Gladness Stakes twice, Group 3 Jersey Stakes; Third: Group 3 Prix de Ris-Orangis, Group 3 Chipchase Stakes, Listed City of York Stakes; Fourth: Group 1 Sprint Cup, Listed King Charles II Stakes, Listed Sovereign Stakes)
2005 – Mark’s 800th winner – St Petersburg (also Listed-placed that year in the Betfred Mile and Leicestershire Stakes), as were Trew Class (in the Listed Virginia Handicap) and Diamonds & Dust (in the Listed International Trial Stakes)
2004 – Group 3 Lily Langtry Stakes, Goodwood – won by Astrocharm (A further six career wins as well as being placed twenty-one times including Third: Group 3 Lily Langtry Stakes, Listed Pinnacle Stakes, Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes; Fourth: Listed Grand Cup Stakes, Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes; Now retired as a broodmare and based at Dullingham Park Stud)
Lincoln Handicap – won by Babodana (Bought by Mark for approx. £15,000 and earned over £200,000 prize-money for his owners; Career runs include Won: Listed Ben Marshal Stakes; Second: Group 2 Betfred Mile, Listed Ben Marshal Stakes, Listed Midsummer Stakes, Listed Hambleton Stakes; Third: Group 2 Betfred Mile, Group 3 Badener Meile, Group 3 Darley Stakes, Lincoln Handicap 2008, Listed Doncaster, Listed On the House Stakes, Listed Spring Trophy, Listed City of York Stakes; Fourth: Group 2 Celebration Mile, Group 3 Joel Stakes twice, Group 3 Silver Trophy Stakes, Group 3 Strensall Stakes, Group 3 Hungerford Stakes, Listed Thoroughbred Stakes, Listed Sandy Lane Stakes)
2003 – Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial – won by Franklins Gardens (Bought by Mark and earned over £200,000 prize-money for his owners; also Won Group 2 Yorkshire Cup; Second: Group 2 Lonsdale Cup, Group 3 Jockey Club Cup, Group 3 Sagaro Stakes; Fourth: Group 3 Lancaster Stakes, Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes; now retired to stud)
2002 – Mark’s 700th winner – Connect (Also placed a further 39 times in his career; he won over £120,000 in prize-money)
2001 – Gp 3 Chipchase Stakes, Newcastle – won by Volata (also won Listed Weatherbys Stud Book Stakes; Bred by the owners, Mark then achieved a sale to the Far East; 'Firebolt' became Champion Sprinter in Hong Kong)
Highlights from the last Millennium:
Gp 1 St Leger (1993) won by Bob's Return (bought by Mark as a wedding anniversary present for the owner's wife and their first horse in training; he also Won Group 2 Great Voltigeur, Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial, Listed Zetland Stakes; Second: Group 1 Eclipse Stakes, Group 2 Harwicke Stakes; Fourth: Group 1 Prix Ganay; Now retired at stud)
Second in the 1996 Classic 2,000 Guineas Group 1 with Even Top (he also won Listed Tattersalls Stakes, Listed Strensall Stakes; Second: Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes; Third: Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, Group 3 Scottish Classic; Fourth: Group 1 Champion Stakes, Group 2 Prince of Wales Stakes). In the same year Musical Pursuit was Second in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
Group 3 Gladness Stakes was won by Cool Edge in 1997 (purchased by Mark for approx. £750 and went on to win over £100,000 prize-money; also Won Listed Spring Trophy; Second: Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes, Group 3 Concorde Stakes; Third: Group 3 Concorde Stakes, Group 3 Criterion Stakes; Fourth: Group 3 Desmond Stakes, Listed John of Gaunt Stakes, Listed Strensall Stakes).
Further training triumphs continue over hurdles. Mark trained Halkopous to win the Grade 2 Bula Hurdle, Grade 2 Yorkshire Hurdle, Grade 2 Fighting Fifth Hurdle; Second: Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Grade 2 Bula Hurdle; Grade 2 Top Novices' Hurdle; Third: Grade 1 Champion Hurdle; Fourth: Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle. He also trained hurdlers such as Staunch Friend, winner of the Grade 2 Bula Hurdle, Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle and Listed Punchestown Champion Hurdle, Second: Grade 2 Four-Year-Old Hurdle and Grade 2 Gerry Fielden Hurdle.
Other horses that achieved notable success include Overpower, placed fifty times including eleven wins, and more recently Gee Dee Nen, placed eighteen times in twenty-five starts including winning this season.
In the last year or so approximately one in three of his runners have been placed in the first four home. This success combined with his astute purchases of yearlings have led to recognition and reward.
"I try to bring out the best in every one of my horses. In some ways I am just like a school teacher, who has to place them in races so they can fulfil their potential. To be placed in Group and Listed company, like many of these horses named above, they have a natural talent but they also have heart, that strength to battle and the will to win. My owners and I have had some tremendous days and I hope to have many more for them in the years ahead."
Mark runs two racing yards at Flint Cottage Stables and Exeter Ride in Newmarket. And, with his wife Angie, he runs Dullingham Park Stud a few miles outside of the town and Garrowby Stud in Yorkshire. He has also been Chairman of the Newmarket Trainers' Federation for nearly ten years.
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