Derby-winning trainer Marcus Tregoning answers the questions
During his 25-year training career Marcus Tregoning has produced numerous big-race winners, the obvious highlights coming in 2006 when he won the Derby with Sir Percy and more recently the Sussex Stakes with leading miler Mohaather in 2020.
Tregoning, 62, learned his trade under three-time Derby-winning trainer Dick (WR) Hern, becoming his assistant after Hern was confined to a wheelchair following a hunting accident in 1984. Hern trained the legendary Brigadier Gerard in the 1970s and, with the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the successes continued with Classic winners Harayir and Nashwan plus outstanding sprinter Dayjur among those to emerge during Tregoning’s time.
After Hern died, Nayef was an early trailblazer for Tregoning from Hern’s former stable in Lambourn, winning four times at G1 level in the Champion Stakes (2001), Dubai Sheema Classic (2002), Juddmonte International (2002) and Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2003). Tregoning has been based at Whitsbury in Hampshire since 2013.
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
It has to be WR Hern because I spent so much time with him over the 14 years, both while he was on his feet and when he trained brilliantly from his time in a wheelchair. It was quite outstanding what he did. He was not only a good trainer and communicator but also a teacher. I wouldn’t have got where I am without his help during that time. He has to be top of the list along with Sir Gordon Richards, who I was lucky enough to meet. He was an incredible achiever. It’s extraordinary that he was champion jockey 26 times, riding all those hundreds of winners.
Which is your favourite venue and race anywhere in the world?
My favourite venue is definitely Goodwood – I think it is the most magnificent racecourse. It’s well run and I was lucky enough to win the Sussex Stakes, which is their best race. I love racing there; it’s very traditional. We love to run two-year-olds there, in fact any horse. It’s a great atmosphere with a wonderful view across the Sussex Downs. It’s a great place to take someone racing who has never been before. If they don’t catch the bug there, they won’t catch it anywhere. The Derby is the greatest race in the world and again I’ve been fortunate enough to win it with Sir Percy. It’s a very important race in our calendar and justifiably so.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
It’s one of mine. I was very lucky to train Mubtaker in my very early days of training. I had him for six years when I think he was the oldest entire to win a Group race at the age of nine. He achieved an official rating of 130 at one stage after his second to Dalakhani in the Arc. Although he wasn’t a Group 1 winner, he was winning Group races every year. I know his owner Sheikh Hamdan particularly enjoyed that day at Longchamp where he was a very worthy second. Along with all the nice ones like Sir Percy, I feel very lucky to have trained any of them.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Derby Day 2006. Every young trainer aspires to win the greatest race in the world and we were lucky enough to do it. There was huge expectation. He was coming off a good second in the 2,000 Guineas but that year the ground at Newmarket had been very firm and he actually came back injured. It was a really difficult time getting him ready to run again in three weeks. He managed it because he was a courageous horse with plenty of heart. He gave his all. It was a terrific day.
What is the biggest challenge racing faces today?
It’s an old chestnut but the prize-money situation is very worrying. We have one of the greatest stages and traditional places for horse racing. It’s a great privilege to win a Group 1 on these tracks but you can’t live and survive off that. We have to compete. You can see how much people respect British racing by the fact we manage to get international runners at Royal Ascot, which is a miracle when they have so much better prize-money in their own countries and make the journey for the prestige and history. It’s alarming and has to be addressed. Goodness knows how we do it. Lots of things have been tried but we have to do something about it because people won’t go on and on paying £30,000 a year to keep a horse in training for a pittance in return. It can’t continue like this forever.
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