Clive Washbourn

When Aidan O'Brien resurrected City Of Troy (Justify) to win the Derby, he was rightly hailed as a genius. Sadly, it didn't take long for that piece of brilliance to be overshadowed by an expose-style documentary carried out by Ireland's national broadcaster [RTE] which concentrated on horses being sent to slaughter.  Admittedly, the documentary featured mostly non-thoroughbreds but the build-up and reaction to the programme has dominated the mainstream coverage of this sport in recent times. Not O'Brien's moment of magic that arguably should have been celebrated more than it...

Making all under an enterprising ride from Silvestre De Sousa, Clive Washbourn's Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Hairy Rocket {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) took Cologne's G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas back to Britain on Monday. Last year's G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up, who had enjoyed a confidence-boosting win in a Goodwood conditions event earlier this month, was needing the line as Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}) closed in down the centre of the track and it came in time for the David Menuisier-trained colt to prevail by a neck,...

One test of a visit to a racing yard is whether you come away wishing you owned a horse to send there. David Menuisier's set-up is one such place. If you like patient trainers with strong opinions who pride themselves on being self-made while displaying a virtuoso's touch, Dancing Brave's old home near Pulborough in West Sussex could be for you. Menuisier, a Frenchman in love with British racing - despite the inferior prize-money - is L'Etranger of the training ranks. One translation of that label is somebody who isn't...

NEWMARKET, UK -- "Get in there!" There's nothing like a bit of football chanting from the terraces of Tattersalls to wake up a slumbering press bench at the end of a long day, and there is no better man for that job than the irrepressible Clive Washbourn. "Two hundred, show us your money," yelled the owner and breeder as Lynn Lodge Stud's colt by Pinatubo (Ire) circled in the ring below him.  "Have you anything to say on the back wall?" enquired auctioneer Simon Kerins of Anthony Stroud, who had also...