Trainer Adam West has sent 12 horses to Maisons-Laffitte in France and opened a satellite yard there, according to published reports. The 35-year-old is the trainer of G1 Nunthorpe Stakes hero Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who has remained at Epsom, but is now housed at Gasston Stables, instead of Loretta Lodge Stables.
“I immediately really liked Maisons-Laffitte,” West told Jour de Galop from the track on Friday morning. “This centre has a lot of assets. I chose to come to France because the working conditions and the way of life are appreciable. The breeder of Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Stuart McPhee was one of the people who convinced me to take the plunge.
“The economic side are taken into account of course, but I am well aware that I will probably not become filthy rich by becoming a trainer in France. The structure and orientation of the French sector are much better. Here, medium-sized trainers have a chance of making it, unlike in England, where they are in great difficulty…I am very happy to join the Maisons-Laffitte training team.”
West will saddle his first runners under both codes beginning in 2025, and he admits that a permanent move to France is not out of the question.
“It's looking like we'll permanently move to France, but I'd like to find my feet first,” he told Racing Post.
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