One of the most interesting projects for 2013 is close to lift-off after the BHA approved the licence of new trainer Olly Stevens, who has been installed at the Robins Farm stable in Surrey purchased last year by Sheik Fahad Al Thani.
Qatari Sheik Fahad has quickly become a central figure in the sport through both ownership and his Qipco sponsorship of the of the British Champions Series and Champions day itself.
While Stevens is not a private trainer, Sheik Fahad and his brothers account for around two thirds of the Stevens string which currently numbers 33 horses.
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The colt is one of a handful of older horses alongside 25 two-year-olds in the stable which used to be the base of former trainer Peter Winkworth.
Stevens said: ‘We are not going to run a huge number of horses over the next few months but we have a handful which may run on the All Weather. There are a couple of races next weekend where we might make entries and see how we go. But it is a long year and our big focus will be the spring and early summer for the earlier two-year-olds.’
Stevens, who has assisted trainers including James Fanshawe, Jessica Harington and US-based Kellyn Gorder, is assisted by wife Hetta, who herself has worked with Henrietta Knight and Michael Dickinson.
The pair have been based at their 50-acre Surrey yard since last summer.
Stevens added: ‘We moved here in July and since that time we have done a huge amount of work to the place which is still going on, whether that be fencing or re-surfacing gallops.
‘We are very lucky, Peter Winkworth was passionate about this place and put his heart and soul into it so it is really a case putting the polish on it.’
We haven't seen the last of Mohican
The departure to stud of Frankel has left a hole which will be impossible to fill for the Sir Henry Cecil stable but there was a message over Christmas not to forget one of his former stablemates.
The Cecil-trained First Mohican was a red-hot favourite for the season-closing November Handicap at Doncaster only to trail in 12th behind the winner Art Scholar, a rival he had previously beaten at Nottingham.
But confidence in the gelding, who has only raced four times in three seasons, has not been dented.
Resurgence: Cecil's First Mohican is tipped to bounce backSyndicate boss Henry Ponsonby, in whose Shefford Bloodstock colours First Mohican runs, featured the colt on the front of his Christmas newsletter with a speech bubble alongside saying: ‘My stablemate Frankel has gone – we will all miss him but he can enjoy himself. I am sorry I lost my unbeaten record in the November Handicap but Sir Henry thinks next year could be mine – I am on side and will be back.’
Apparently, First Mohican pulled some muscles and suffered post-race lameness in a joint after Doncaster.
The irrepressible Ponsonby still hopes his star colt could cut it in Pattern company the summer.
Footballers in the dock
The BHA are understood to have set aside two weeks – or 10 working days - to hear the first big Disciplinary Hearing of the year involving jockey Andrew Heffernan and footballers Michael Chopra and James Coppinger which starts on January 14.
The time set aside for the case, only a day shorter than the massive hearing which saw owners Maurice Sines and James Crickmore banned from the sport last year, reflects the level of evidence that will have to be heard with nine individuals charged.
In the dock: Ipswich Town striker Michael ChopraIt is understood Heffernan, who had been riding in Australia until stood down by NSW stewards, is returning to Britain to attend the enquiry.
Stevens returns
US Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, who had a brief stint as stable jockey to Sir Michael Stoute, has said he will be seeking quality over quantity when he comes out of a seven-year retirement on Sunday to partner Jebrica in a $50,000 claimer at Santa Anita, California. But it will surely not have escaped his notice that he needs only 112 more winners to take his career tally to 5,000.
Dettori in the house
The avalanche of comments on Frankie Dettori’s entry into the Celebrity Big Brother House have reflected the diverse opinions you might have expected as well as the comment that made The Captain smile as much as anything this week.
In the house: Dettori has entered into Celebrity Big BrotherPreparing for Friday’s marathon 15-race card at Wolverhampton, in which he had eight rides, top jockey Jamie Spencer tweeted: ‘Not sure what’s worse, 3 weeks in the big brother house or 7 and a half hours in the weighroom at Wolverhampton with jimmy Quinn #tightcall’
Laughter's the best medicine
Talking of laughing. Racegoers who find their betting at Sandown on Saturday leaves them feeling glum at least have the chance to leave the Esher course with a smile on their faces as comedians Stephen Grant, Jeff Innocent and Louis Ramey, all performers at London’s Comedy Store, will be taking to the stage after the action has finished.
More... The Captain's Log: Highclere link helps Bonneville branch out into Sport of Kings What a pair! Shamed jockey Dettori and ex-Liverpool defender Ruddock join host of celebrities in Big Brother house
