Sir Mark Prescott

The first episode in a five-part video series to showcase the various aspects that make owning a horse-in-training in Britain worthwhile, was launched by Great British Racing International (GBRI) on Monday. Titled 'Be A Part Of it: Owning In Britain', the first video is Sir Mark Prescott reflecting on the history and heritage that underpins the British racing experience. Additional videos will be released every Monday. The series, backed by the National Trainers' Federation (NTF), will also show the training environment that Thoroughbreds are exposed to in Britain, as well...

This season we appear to have been gifted an above average crop of 3-year-olds, along with some truly exciting older horses who have remained in training. It is as it should be, but things don't always work out that way.  France and England exchanged Group 1 races at the weekend: on Saturday it was a case of veni, vidi, vici for Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), who gave France a first victory in the race since 1960, when it was won by the Percy Carter-trained Javelot (Fr) (Fast Fox {Fr}). The...

Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was making her comeback in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but there was no sign of rustiness as she overwhelmed a deep field for a fourth consecutive top-level victory. Now unbeaten in her last six starts including the G2 Lancashire Oaks, G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin, G1 Preis Von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained grey was held up early travelling notably strongly for Luke Morris in rear of mid-division. Unleashed wide at the top of the straight,...

No matter what privileges or disadvantages we take into the starting gate, and no matter how many circuits we get to run, all of us ultimately pull up at the same finishing line. But it is not just that humbling reckoning, reached within days of each other, that united Billy Turner and Josephine Abercrombie. Their lives, though wildly contrasting, were animated by the same bond of vitality that sustains many who grieve them. "Mrs. A.", as she was known to those blessed by her friendship or patronage, embraced the extraordinary...

Kirsten Rausing's 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) had yet to taste defeat in four prior outings this term and lined up for Sunday's G1 Allianz Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich coming back off wins in Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and Cologne's Sept. 26 G1 Preis von Europa last time. The homebred grey's second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), who was also conditioned by Sir Mark Prescott, had rattled off a trio of German Group 1 triumphs in a nine-week spree during 2004 and she emulated...

Multiple Group 1 winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will remain in training next year and her trainer Sir Mark Prescott has decided to aim the grey at the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Kirsten Rausing-owned filly defeated subsequent Arc hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Hoppegarten's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August. She then doubled up at that level in the G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne on Sept. 26. All being well, the filly could also take in November's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern...

It's been a season like no other for Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud operation and, fresh on the heels of Zaaki (GB)'s cakewalk in Saturday's G1 Underwood S., the Sir Mark Prescott-conditioned 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made it a quickfire elite-level double for the nursery, sporting her owner-breeder's colours, in Sunday's G1 59th Preis von Europa at Cologne. The February-foaled grey, second in last term's G1 Yorkshire Oaks, was unbeaten in three prior black-type starts this term and lined up as the 11-10 favourite for this latest outing returning...

Coping with easy ground well enough to record a workmanlike success in the G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last time July 3, Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) relished the slicker surface available at a sun-baked Hoppegarten to continue her owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing's annus mirabilis by garnering Sunday's G1 Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin. Settled fourth early by Luke Morris as Godolphin's G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) cut out the running, the 19-5 shot was launched in early straight to swamp her neighbour passing...

Team Newmarket Red leads the Racing League standings after the first card at Newcastle on Thursday evening, despite failing to post a winner. The six-race card was the first of six meetings that comprise the £1.8-million Racing League, which pits 12 teams against each other in races worth £50,000 apiece. Team Newmarket Red, comprised of Robert Cowell, John and Thady Gosden, Sir Mark Prescott and David Simcock recorded three seconds and two thirds, good for 85 points. Team talkSPORT sits second. Broadcaster Rupert Bell, who manages Team talkSPORT along with...

Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), whose granddam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) won the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in 2004, is under consideration for the same race at Hoppegarten on Aug. 8. Another potential target for the July 3 G2 Lancashire Oaks heroine is the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Glorious Goodwood on July 31. The Kirsten Rausing silksbearer also captured the Apr. 30 Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' S. "She's fine," said trainer Sir Mark Prescott. "She'll either go for the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood or she might go to Germany...

Pivotal (GB) (Polar Falcon-Fearless Revival {GB}, by Cozzene), the Group 1-winning sprinter who has excelled as both a sire and broodmare sire, has been pensioned from stud duty at Cheveley Park Stud at the age of 28. The chestnut had remained in service at his birthplace up until last year, covering reduced numbers of mares in recent years, and will live out his remaining life at the Newmarket nursery. Bred by David and Patricia Thompson's Cheveley Park Stud, Pivotal was a member of the first crop of the G1 Sprint...

John Gosden, alongside fellow Newmarket trainers Sir Mark Prescott, Robert Cowell and David Simcock, will make up one of the dozen teams of the Racing League tournament which begins next summer. Another Newmarket team is comprised of Michael Bell, Ed Dunlop, James Fanshawe and Roger Varian. Clive Cox, Nicky Henderson, Charlie Hills and Jamie Osborne are representing Lambourn. Another team is Mick Appleby, Michael Dods, David O'Meara and Paul Midgley. Mick Channon has joined Paul and Oliver Cole, Eve Johnson Houghton and Hughie Morrison. France will also send a team...