A Morgan-Evans healthcheck providing vital assistance in Wathnan Racing success story

Richard Morgan-Evans describes the service he provides to breeze-up recruits such as the Norfolk Stakes winner Shareholder as "a pitstop".

He is not exactly waiting in the road armed with fuel hoses and a crew of blacksmith mechanics as a two-year-old screeches to a halt between the sales ground and the racecourse, but it is a useful sporting analogy for timeframes which are inherently tight.

The Newmarket-based pre-trainer was assigned particular credit by Wathnan Racing’s bloodstock agent Richard Brown for his assistance in processing their collection of new starters, which also included the Queen Mary winner Leovanni.

At Royal Ascot Brown spoke of Morgan-Evans’ "tailor-made, individual programme" which acquired most relevance in the case of Shareholder, who was bought late in the sales season at Arqana on May 11 via Jim McCartan’s Gaybrook Lodge Stud in County Westmeath.

Exactly four weeks later, the €460,000 son of Not This Time was on the track for trainer Karl Burke, winning on his debut at Beverley. He would disprove bloodstock lore that Arqana breezers cannot be ready for Ascot by adding the Norfolk title just 12 days afterwards. 

"It was nice of Richard to mention me as we're very grateful for his and Wathnan's support," says Morgan-Evans. "They come basically for a short spell but inside of that time we get them back riding, just to make sure they’re okay physically and mentally.

Shareholder at Arqana in early April, where he was consigned by Gaybrook Lodge and made €460,000 Credit: Zuzanna LUPA

"They get a little bit of turnout, get their teeth done, get their backs done, worming. It’s fairly basic and straightforward DIY stuff to make sure they’re all right before they move into training."

Morgan-Evans explains that Brown, or others who send similar horses to the Great Bradley Oak Stud operation that he runs with his wife Tiffany, will already have a fair idea as to whether a purchase is ready to be considered an imminent racing prospect or one that needs more time. 

"I think they’re well aware where the horses are and obviously every horse is different in terms of how you manage them," he says.

"[Shareholder] wasn’t with us very long, a short stopover for probably five days, just checking he was sound and riding okay.

"It would be guided very much by Richard. We talk between us but if the horse is happy, healthy, in good shape and ready to move on, they move on."

Getting to know new horses is a big test for their trainers; indeed, Burke found that Shareholder decided to go off his food before his debut only to settle into his new regime without further complaint.

Idiosyncrasies are just part of the job. Following a period through the winter in which consignors will have taught immature horses to produce a zippy two-furlong breeze by the spring, Morgan-Evans just wants his contribution to make everyone’s life a little easier.

"Any sale is quite a stressful thing for a horse but particularly a breeze, so just having a little bit of TLC before going on to a full training environment, I think it helps," he says.

There are lots of new experiences for a young horse to take in at the salesCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

"A little bit of time out in the fields, getting their heads down, is really nice for them and it’s something they wouldn’t necessarily get in training.

"It’s like if you’re an athlete and you’ve been in fairly intensive training and you have a little stop, a health check and a few easy days.

"We do keep riding them but it’s just quietly and easily. With breeze-up horses, they can sometimes be quite busy so it’s a nice thing for them to hack round and go slowly, so when they go into training they’re settled and not over-keen, and it's the same when they start to race."

Morgan-Evans, who rode in point-to-points as an amateur, used to play a senior role in running Shadwell’s pre-training and rehabilitation centre, while his wife has similar experience in the eventing world. 

They have been at their farm since 2012 and their all-round service, including breaking-in and sales preparation, caters for nearly all of Newmarket’s blue-chip names, including trainers John Gosden, William Haggas, Roger Varian, Sir Mark Prescott, David Simcock, George Boughey and Charlie Appleby, as well as studs such as Cheveley Park, Shadwell and Lanwades.

"We saw a gap in the market," he says. "I didn’t want to train myself but we both very much enjoy the breaking and pre-training. At first we rented a yard in Norfolk, quite near Shadwell, and continued to work closely with them, then we built a client base from that. 

Wondermare Alpinista spent some of her early life with Richard Morgan-EvansCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Luckily the numbers grew, we bought Great Bradley Oak Stud, and we’re incredibly privileged to work with all of our trainers and the studs."

Brown credited the team’s help with other breeze-up purchases in the past, like triple Group 1 winner and now Darley stallion Perfect Power. Such a list of clients consequently makes Morgan-Evans’ complete list of graduates extensive, and it grew again as Varian's Charyn swept clear in the Queen Anne Stakes.

"We’ve had lots of horses for Sir Mark like Marsha and the Arc winner Alpinista," he says. "Over time there have been lots of lovely horses that come through.

"It’s difficult to choose favourites with the numbers that come through here, but it’s always lovely to follow them. Through Royal Ascot, we had quite a few runners every day and it’s lovely to be a part of it, even if it’s a very small part."

There is never much of a breather as Morgan-Evans explains that he and the team can break in perhaps 250 horses, of a total maybe double that which might lodge in the yard for some reason or other through the year. A later check of his records confirms a working tally of around 6,000 horses who have stopped by at some stage in the last 13 years.

"At this time it’s a bit quieter," he says. "There’s a bit of more old fashioned pre-training and horses that are maybe coming back from a break.

"You don’t want to lose people, we have a good team of staff, so you need to keep enough numbers in. Then you’re ready for the sales again in October, when it does get really busy.

"It’s very nice to work with these animals and we thoroughly enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work in the winter and long old days, but it’s a privilege to do so."

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