Since sending out his first runner just over nine years ago, James has already saddled more than 400 winners to win over £4 million of prize money. His statistics also tell a story as an incredible 60% of his runners finish in the first four.
2020 will always be remembered as the year of COVID-19 but despite the most challenging of circumstances the stable still managed to send out two individual Group winners and a Listed winner.
The season had a delayed start of 1st June but the yard didn’t wait long to make its mark with Victory Heights make a winning debut for the 2yos at Newcastle on 2nd June.
Just four days later, Far Above ran out an impressive winner of the Group 3 Palace House Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum’s son of Farhh showed electric speed to virtually make all against some established Group performers. Unfortunately, Far Above was injured in the race and had to be retired afterwards but in this performance he showed the racing world a glimpse of his talent and breeders are understandably keen to use him from his new base at Compas Stallions in County Meath, Ireland.
Next it was the turn of the Night Of Thunder filly Under The Stars to reappear. Having won the Group 3 Princess Margaret as a juvenile, she started the season as a proven talent. Indeed, it took her just two starts to get off the mark and after a creditable sixth in the 1,000 Guineas, she bounced back to form to win a fiercely competitive Listed Eternal Stakes over seven furlongs at Haydock Park.
The final Group winner of the short season came in the form of the hugely exciting Top Rank. Saeed Manana’s massive grey son of Dark Angel built on an easy comeback win at Thirsk when powering to victory in the Group 3 Superior Mile at Haydock. He is sure to be a force to be reckoned with this year particularly on rain-softened ground.
All at Jamesfield Place are determined to make the most of a full season in 2021 and with exciting horses such as Top Rank supported by a bunch of exciting youngsters, that’s sure to happen…
