Jane Chapple-Hyam fends off US interest as Classic hope Claymore stays put

Newmarket trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam has stemmed the recent flow of top British juvenile talent being sold abroad by persuading her landlord to buy 2022 Classic hope Claymore.

The son of New Bay is 33-1 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after winning a 7f novice by four lengths on his debut at Newmarket last month when carrying the colours of Bahraini owner Mutlaq Menahi Almutairi.

Claymore, who cost Almutairi just £10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland breeze-up sale in June, had been the subject of two generous offers from the US since his debut win on the Rowley Mile, which would have meant him being trained on the other side of the Atlantic.

Before those offers were accepted, Chapple-Hyam moved to keep the colt in training at Newmarket’s Abington Place Stables by getting her landlord at the Bury Road yard, South African owner-breeder Mary Slack, to buy the colt.

She said: “Like many others, it was looking like Claymore was on his way to the US at one point, but thankfully my landlady Mary Slack stepped in, and it will be the first horse I have in her colours. The Bahrain owner had decent offers and it was important to move fast.

"I told Mary how much I think of the horse and she was happy to help out. Although she doesn’t have horses here at the moment, she owns two stud farms in South Africa and is a big player down there.”

On plans for Claymore next year, Chapple-Hyam added: “We think he’s a Classic horse all right and, all being well, we may run him in the 2,000 Guineas and then the Derby.

"It’s remarkable as he cost just €5,000 as a yearling at Arqana last year and then £10,000 at the breeze-ups.”

Chapple-Hyam also has a nice filly for the 2022 Classics in Heat Of The Moment, who won on her debut at Yarmouth in October for Kirsten Rausing, another new owner to the yard.

The trainer said: “It’s nice to have Classic hopes for two local owners and Heat Of The Moment will probably be aimed at the French Classics. That will give us chances on both sides of the Channel.”

Neil Callan and Marco Botti after their Newmarket sales race victory with TatsumakiCredit: Steve Davies

Among the recent talent sold overseas is the three-time winning juvenile colt Tatsumaki, who was sold out of Marco Botti’s yard to Hong Kong after landing a sales race by five lengths at Newmarket in October.

The son of Charming Thought cost just 16,000gns as a yearling and is thought to have been sold for well over £500,000.

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