Ambitious Scott Dixon opens second training yard following stable expansion

Scott Dixon has embarked on a new venture by opening a second training facility at a British all-weather track with a satellite yard at Wolverhampton operating alongside his main base at Southwell.

Dixon, who has reaped the benefits of relocating from his father Paul's Haygarth House Stud near Retford to Southwell three years ago, has been busy restocking at the sales and starts with a team of 20 horses at Wolverhampton.

James Unett, the former incumbent at Dunstall Park, has been appointed to the role of assistant and Dixon can also rely on the experience of former South African trainer Gavin Blake and his wife Estelle at the new set-up.

"There are plenty of racing opportunities at Wolverhampton and we've got 25 stables there with ambitions to expand," said Dixon.

"We've taken James Unett on board with four of his horses and moved my assistant at Southwell, Gavin Blake, there. He'll be joined by his wife Estelle, so we'll have three former licensed individuals on the ground.

"We've got a team of 37 at Southwell as well and we'll have horses based at the track they're most suited to."

Dixon, 34, has had a lot of success at the two Arena Racing Company-owned tracks, saddling 93 winners at Southwell and 20 at Wolverhampton.

He is ideally placed to take advantage of the recent investment at Southwell, where floodlights have been installed and the surface modernised to Tapeta from Fibresand.

Wolverhampton: a new second base for Scott DixonCredit: Getty Images

"We've done better since we moved to Southwell and training on the track works pretty well, including from an owners' point of view as it massively reduces transport costs – we all know about the rising fuel prices," said the trainer.

"Since the surface change at Southwell, we've restocked with horses to go on Tapeta and turf. We've got a good team of owners who supported me through Covid-19 and helped get these nice horses from the sales."

Dixon spent 58,000gns on last season's Ayr Gold Cup fourth Motagally at the Shadwell draft to join a strong team of sprinters including Dark Shot, Zargun and One Night Stand.

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