Channon Holds Strong Hand For Tatts

In a book recently published by his son, Mick Channon's second profession is bleakly defined as an exercise in “introducing successful people to failure.” In reality, of course, as a man who has famously mastered two very different walks of sporting life–first as an international footballer, and now as a racehorse trainer–Channon enables his clients to share a nearly unique brand of success. Even so, this time of year presents him with two imperatives that are very difficult to reconcile. On the one hand, he would love his clients to resist cashing in those assets whose value he has enhanced. He is adamant that at least two of the three stakes winners he is sending up to the December Sales at Tattersalls Nov. 8 to Dec. 1 have plenty more to offer on the track. At the same time, however, he acknowledges that all owners need to raise funds if they are to sustain a new cycle in the perennial quest for fresh stars.

“For a yard like ours, the last thing we want is to be losing horses like these,” he says. “But I understand, of course I do. It's difficult, you know what us trainers are like, we're always chasing owners to spend more. So they've got to sell to re-invest. Some owners will be looking to go again, some will breed, some won't, it's all part and parcel of the business we're in. But of course you'd keep these horses if you could. Everyone's always going to the yearling sales, spending hundreds of thousands, trying to find a group horse. And these horses can take you straight to those races–and maybe for half the money.”

A case in point is Czabo (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), home-bred from their resident stallion by Norman Court Stud. The 3-year-old has only made seven starts to date, finishing fourth in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas before landing a listed race in Deauville. Disappointing in the G1 Coronation S., she was not seen again but will now resurface as lot 1876.

“She just wasn't quite right after Ascot so we gave her a bit of a break,” Channon says. “Unfortunately when she came back for the autumn she just came up with a bit of mucus on her scope. That happened a couple of times when she was ready to run, which was frustrating, but I'd say she'll be better again at four. She's only half-trained, really, and I'm sure she's going to go on and make a proper racehorse.”

Opal Tiara (Ire) (Thousand Words {GB}), meanwhile, ended her second season with an official rating of 109, having won the G3 Supreme S at Goodwood in August.

“I'm certain she's going to make a smashing 4-year-old,” Channon says of lot 1878, who will be offered through Tweenhills Farm & Stud. “I wanted to take her to Dubai, she'd be perfect for out there.”

The other stakes winner heading to Park Paddocks is Divine (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who has rather more miles on the clock as a globe-trotting 5-year-old. Out of a half-sister to G1 winner Caradak (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}), lot 1875 is eligible for a new career after her Group 3 win at the Curragh in June. “She's sound as a pound, and could race on, but I expect someone will want to send her to the paddocks,” Channon accepts. “She's had another very good year, bless her. She bolted up in Ireland and was only just beaten by The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the Hackwood. She's been so tough and sound, and always paid her way.”

Channon is also bidding farewell to Harlequin Twist (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) as lot 1904. Though she has a blank page as a runner, she is out of a winning half-sister to G2 Cherry Hinton S. winner Jewel In The Sand (Ire) (Bluebird).

“We thought she was going to be one of our best 2-year-olds last season but she just had one or two niggly problems that kept her off the track,” Channon explains. “Her owner's more into his racing than his breeding but she's a good-looking filly with quite a nice pedigree, and she'll make a real good broodmare.”

Whatever their futures holds, Czabo and Divine will always be treasured at West Ilsley for their contribution to the remarkable June afternoon when Channon sent out three stakes winners in three different countries. This feat was somewhat overlooked at the time, it being Derby day and the G3 success of Epsom Icon (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) hardly the most significant performance on the card for which he had been named. Those who did register the deed, however, would also have noted a Classic podium the previous afternoon for Harlequeen (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}). Purchased as a Book 1 yearling for just 32,000gns, she finished third in the G1 Investec Oaks and then proceeded to fill the same position in the Irish version the following month.

“A 30-grand filly, placed in two Oaks,” Channon exclaims. “But that was just a weekend when all the horses were in great nick and the races just fell right. I know people will judge me on times when I had a lot more Arab[-owned] horses, and we're down to the knuckle a bit now. So the question is: on what you can afford, can you compete at the highest level? And horses like that give the answer. Horses that aren't fashionably bred, or expensively bought. That's great that we can do that, though of course it's frustrating at the same time. You want to have a go at the big boys, and you will keep getting your arse kicked. But that's what gets you up in the morning, every time you find a horse that gives you hope.

“We've had lots of quality this year, and loads of success abroad. Yes, I've still got too much rubbish. But that's always been the way. My sons are always telling me: 'Dad, you have to get rid of the rubbish.' But if an owner just wants to have fun, then that's my business to provide it too. I'd love better quality, of course I would, but I don't have the clientele that can afford it: I've a lot of syndicates, a lot of fun owners. It's difficult to get the balance right. Because remember that it's from these type of horses that we'll produce one now and then that does go through the ranks, that does take on the best.”

Emerging as a stalwart in this process is Sixties Icon (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), sire and trainer each having proved of reciprocal benefit to each other's reputations. “He's been brilliant for us, all these good horses from a stallion standing at five-grand,” Channon says. “I'm involved in the horse too, so even when we've had to sell it's great for us when they go on–like Nancy From Nairobi (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) did this year, winning her Grade II in the States.”

When Channon does play for higher stakes, naturally, it is all the more important that the punt pays off. Such, happily, looks like proving the case with Kassia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), a €180,000 yearling who rounded off her second season with a breakthrough listed success at Newmarket in October–crowning a sequence of four wins in five start. Moreover, the way she travelled through the race suggests that she will handle the tempo of even hotter sprints.

“Yes, she's one we did pay a lot of money for, for good patrons of mine,” Channon says. “We've always thought she was decent and it was just a question of ironing out her problems with the stalls. She'd panic a bit, that's all, but it's all coming together now and I think she's going to prove herself a real high-class filly. With the way she settles so well, and the size and scope she has, I'd hope she'll prove herself group class.”

Channon's only disappointment about the campaign has been the mediocrity of his 2-year-olds. “I think they must have been the worst bunch I've ever had,” he admits candidly. “We didn't have one rated higher than 85, which for us is unbelievable. Of course, that's another reason why you'd be desperate to keep these nice horses going to the sales–and why it's so pleasing that we're hanging onto a lot of the other older ones. And of course we've around 70 yearlings coming in at the moment, so I'll try to sneak off on holiday to keep my hands off them for a bit. And then we'll see what next year brings. Because it's the same as ever: it's exciting times, it's the dream factory.”