By Daithi Harvey
TDN's Daithí Harvey caught up with English trainer Eve Johnson-Houghton ahead of her Qatar Derby challenge with Scarlet Dragon (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}).
TDN: It appears 2016 was your most successful year both from a winners and prizemoney perspective. Did any particular changes you made to your strategy bring about this increased success or has it been a steady building of momentum?
E J-H: 2016 has indeed been my best year to date, I can't put my finger on the exact reason as we have made a few tweaks, but no major changes to our system. I think the major thing was we kept the horses healthy and we have been building up the quality of the horses which have generally been getting better year on year.
TDN: Was breaching the £500k prize money mark this year a sought after goal and what would be your main objectives for 2017?
E J-H: At the start of the season I could never have dreamt we would have reached the £500k prize money mark, however, the closer it got the more imperative it seemed to get there. If you are not winning Group 1s and a lot of big handicaps this is a very difficult amount to reach. Next year I would hope to build on the great time we have had, hopefully getting more winners and if we can reach the £500k mark again that would be fantastic. I also would like to train a group winner and a Royal Ascot winner.
TDN: Have you had much success targeting overseas races in the past and what are the main challenges that you have faced in this regard? (Johnson-Houghton's Scarlet Dragon finished 14th in the Dec. 29 Qatar Derby (QAT-G3).
E J-H: We don't have a huge number of overseas runners, however we have had a good deal of success with what we have sent. Judd Street won two races in Dubai, Beaver Patrol won in Dubai and Amulet won a listed race in France. I think it is important to get the right horse who takes to traveling well. A nervous horse or a worrier will not necessarily be suited by traveling far afield.
TDN: I see you had a rare jumps runner this month when What About Carlo (Fr) ran in a hurdle at Newbury. Is this something you might do a bit more of in the future?
E J-H: What About Carlo finished fourth in a hot maiden hurdle at Newbury and although I love the jumps and would like to have a few more in this sphere, I do not see me having a huge number of National Hunt horses.
TDN: Finally how are all your yearlings shaping up and can you give us a horse to look out for in 2017?
E J-H: I am really pleased with all the yearlings we have got in so far, they are progressing well and all my geese are swans. As for a horse to follow, you can't go far wrong with Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), who won the Tattersall Sales Race at Newmarket. He has done particularly well for his time off and I think he will do really well next year.
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