The trainer of Montjeu and Suave Dancer reflects on a brilliant career in France
Scott Burton speaks to the English-born trainer ahead of his retirement
To readily acknowledge the role played in their success by fate is not built into the sporting psyche of that many top performers.
A Ronaldo free kick that goes in off the underside of the bar; a Tiger Woods chip that finds the bottom of the cup on the fly: moments of brilliance that could have turned out anything but, had things broken slightly the other way.
At several points during a long discussion of his training career – one that will have run its course shortly after Nisreen is loaded into the stalls on Monday, December 16 – John Hammond raises the spectre of the road not travelled with some of the key horses who have contributed to his long list of achievements.
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Published on inInterviews
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Copy- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard