Nick Esler

Reef Runner (The Big Beast), winner of the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh and fourth in the Mar. 28 G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, is expected to make his stateside return in the June 6 GI Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga. The 5-year-old gelding had his first work since returning from the Middle East Saturday, going four furlongs in :46.90 (1/19) over the Tapeta at Gulfstream. "He looks fantastic," said trainer David Fawkes. "I nominated him for the Jaipur. We're coming. He traveled...

Trainers Nick Esler and Carl Allsop have launched Sandhurst Thoroughbreds in Morriston, Florida to provide breaking and lay-up services for young racehorses. The new operation will be based at Sunnyside Training Center. The two transplanted Englishmen were road-tripping down the East Coast to Central Florida Wednesday, with Esler's wife and daughter expected to follow next week. Allsop, along with his wife, veterinarian Elizabeth Weber, are already based in Ocala. "I've had it in the back of my mind for maybe the last 18 months now about doing this venture," Esler,...