Group 1-winning trainer Paul Blockley dies aged 61

Former trainer Paul Blockley, who enjoyed Group 1 glory when Zafisio won the 2008 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, has died at the age of 61.

Blockley, who also trained Group 3 winner Lady Deauville, died in hospital in France yesterday, having moved last year when his long-term partner Jo Hughes relocated her training business from Lambourn.

She said: "He hadn't enjoyed the best of health but he'd lived a good life. It was all a bit sudden in the end. He went into hospital for nothing terribly serious but picked up an infection and, with his other health problems, his heart couldn't cope."

Blockley, who began training in the 1980s, saddled around 300 winners on the Flat and over jumps in Britain, and developed a reputation as a capable operator from his Coedkernew base near Newport in south Wales.

He set up a satellite yard for juveniles in Lambourn, which later became his permanent home in 2006, after reasoning his gallops further west on the M4 were too stiff for two-year-olds.

Lady Deauville: in winning form at Ayr in 2008Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Several Listed prizes found their way on to Blockley's CV, although he was warned off for two and a half years by the BHA in October 2008 after a corruption inquiry – a month before Zafisio provided his career highlight.

"We had some brilliant times and good horses," added Hughes, who took out her licence in 2011 with Blockley as her assistant.

"I think we did well with what we had. Zafisio and Lady Deauville would have been the best under his name, but we always trained as a team and felt every winner in each other's name was a winner for both of us, which included London Bridge in the Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita in 2013. Even though he was in my name, it was still the same team training him.

"I think the Group 1 with Zafisio in France was something special for Paul; that was a good day."

Hughes and Blockley, who also landed the Great St Wilfrid Stakes in 2003 with Hidden Dragon, last year moved to Senonnes in north-west France.

"We'd had runners in France for quite a few years and I think Brexit gave us the push to do it," added Hughes, who has 20 horses in training.

Jo Hughes pictured with her long-term partner Paul Blockley in 2013Credit: Edward Whitaker

"We thought if Brexit happened we'd probably need to be already established in France, so we wouldn't be worrying about any uncertainty, while it had been in our minds for a few years anyway.

"Paul was going to be a big part of it, but I'll be carrying on and have a good team working for me. That won't really change, but it's more of a personal tragedy as he was a fun guy, the life and soul of any party.

"He had a few rides under rules and wasn't terribly successful, but that's how he got bitten by the bug. I met him in Cumbria 21 years ago when he applied for a job as a private trainer to someone.

"He ate, lived, breathed racing. He was devoted to the sport in spite of all the things it threw at him and he still enjoyed it just so much. In true Paul Blockley style, we're going to meet at our local bar and have one or two for the road – he always used to say that."

Funeral arrangements have not been finalised, although Hughes thought it would likely take place in the Lambourn area.