John Dance buys private training facility and teams up with Stoute assistant

John Dance announced exciting plans on Monday to establish a private training facility and development stud for yearlings in Middleham just months after significantly scaling back the number of horses he had in training.

The leading owner, who enjoyed top-level success with his multiple Group 1 winner Laurens, drastically cut back his investment in the sport last summer after becoming frustrated by "a multitude of things in racing".

Following time to reflect on his racing operation, Dance bought Manor House Farm and Stud, the birthplace of Derby winner Dante, in November. He also confirmed a "large number" of horses will run in the new black and gold silks for him and his wife Jess and will be trained by Sir Michael Stoute's assistant trainer James Horton.

"It's really exciting, not only from the redevelopment of the farm perspective but to be working with James adds an extra element of excitement," Dance told the Racing Post. "Hopefully we will give James a platform to start a brilliant training career.

"Cutting back was critical to the plans. I wouldn't say we gave up, but it gave us that mental space to fire up the cogs to come up with this. It wasn't tough to wind down, it was almost a relief at the time.

"But from suddenly not being that bothered about having runners, the thought of waiting until next year and on missing out on nice horses started to formulate, especially when we know how we wanted to do things going forward."

Dance saw his current colours carried to Group 1 victories six times by superstar mare LaurensCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Dance bought some yearlings at the December Sale and some previously unsold two-year-olds for his new operation, but will also continue to support other northern trainers with horses. He will also invest in mares to join Laurens on the broodmare band at Salcey Forest Stud.

"I hope the benefits will be felt not just by our farm or the yards we send our horses to, but particularly for keeping Middleham as an important hub for racing," he added. "We've picked up a couple of yearlings this year and may find one or two more still, having revived a strategy that we think will work really well for us.

"We're not planning to bring mares up with the way the land has to be divided, but it gives us the ability to invest in more mares to keep at Salcey Forest.

"We can bring some weanlings and yearlings to these incredible paddocks – it would be foolish to not utilise them for horses in their developmental stages. The dream is to have a homebred Group horse which has been reared through the system."

Owner John Dance with Laurens, his pride and joyCredit: David Carr

Horton, assistant to Stoute for six years, believes the time is right to begin training in his own name and is relishing the new partnership, which is expected to get under way later this year.

"It's a very exciting opportunity," he said. "It's been on my mind for a while now to do it on my own and this is a good opportunity to get going under my own steam.

"I started off with David Redvers at Tweenhills Stud, then did two and a half years as pupil assistant at Sir Mark Prescott's. I also did a stint in Australia with Peter Moody, and came back to Roger Charlton's before going to Sir Michael's.

"It's a brand new adventure and we'll feel our way for the first year in setting a team up and getting organised. I want to make the move smooth and get into a good rhythm."

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