'I supported Josephine Gordon in every way', insists trainer Moore

Lambourn trainer Stan Moore, under whose guidance the career of 2016 champion apprentice Josephine Gordon first flourished, insists suggestions he exploited her success financially are unjust and believes some of the statistics highlighted were selective.

He said: "When Josephine came to me she had ridden one winner. While it's true she had only three winners for me in 2016 that's because she was going for the title and I let her go and ride for other people.

"I supported her in every way. In 2015 she had 165 rides, 81 of them for me. She had 16 winners, nine of them for me. Some of the figures used were selective and made me out to be a dragon."

Josephine Gordon: her 81 rides and nine winners for Stan Moore in 2015 provided a solid base for her successful 2016 apprentice title bidCredit: Edward Whitaker

What the figures – mentioned by Lee Mottershead in his column in Monday's Racing Post – conceal too is that freeing Gordon to ride for others in pursuit of the title cost Moore a horse.

He revealed: "There was an occasion when I let Josephine off one of mine to ride a favourite and the owner took the horse away."

Moore was apprenticed himself, with PJ Prendergast in Ireland, and is a strong supporter of apprentices. Luke Morris is among his earlier successes.

He added: "I've always said to any apprentice that if they work hard they get rides. Josephine got where she is because she had a great work ethic and was always willing to learn, as she still is.

"We let her out of her apprenticeship early to take up the position with Hugo Palmer, and we stopped her fees a good while before she left.

"It was a lot tougher in my day, on £2 a week for six years. Believe me, I've been there, done it, and got the T-shirt."