Graham Clark visits Kimpton Down Stables to get a run down on Ralph Beckett's big hopes for the new flat season.
When it comes to trainer’s in Britain possessing a team with proven talent mixed with exciting horses yet to reach their full potential then look no further than Ralph Beckett.
End of season exploits from Bluestocking in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and Starlust in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar transformed what had been a solid 2024 campaign into a sensational one.
Bluestocking might have moved on to pastures new to take up broodmare duties, but everywhere you look at Kimpton Down Stables it is brimming with quality to suggest the 2025 season will be equally exciting as the last.
A total of 12 entries in this year’s Betfred Derby tells its own tale as to the quality of horse the Classic winning handler has at his disposal.
And with a crop of exciting three year olds joined by the likes of 2024 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me and stable stalwarts Kinross and Starlust everything points to another season filled full of success for Beckett and his ever expanding equine team.
Beckett said: “It has been an aim to concentrate on quality over everything else and we are honing that every year.
“None of us expected any of that to happen in the Arc. Bluestocking ended up being a well backed second favourite on the day, but we didn’t go into the weekend thinking we would win. But the rain in the morning helped significantly as did a terrific draw. She really thrived for going to the Vermeille and coming back to the Arc.
“Starlust just loves travelling. They went ballistic through the first quarter of a mile in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and that set it up for him.
“There were plenty of others backing them up, including You Got To Me, whose win in the Irish Oaks was huge and she put in a big run in the Yorkshire Oaks. She has got a pedigree that suggests she will be better this season.
“As for the two year olds we had any number of maiden winners going into this year and hopefully a couple will step forward. I think that we’ve been sent a lot of nice two year olds so that is great. Hopefully the ball will keep rolling.”
And is not just equine talent that Beckett will be nurturing with promising apprentice jockey Jack Dace, son of trainer Luke Dace, joining his roster of riders to call upon this season.
Beckett added: “George Baker approached me to take him and he was an old ally of ours back in the day so it felt like a good fit.
“We’ve not had an apprentice for a while, but he rides well and he impressed in his trial here.
“He will learn plenty here from Rossa Ryan, Hector Crouch, Eddie Greatrex and Richard Kingscote. He has got plenty of advice coming his way as his dad is a good guy.
“He will have plenty of help from lots of places. He will live here, and work here, and we will do the best for him.”
