'Last year was brilliant but we have aspirations this year to go even further'

A 50-1 winner was not the worst way to bring the curtain down on 2022 for Cross Channel Racing, who struck with debutant Captain Cisco at Lingfield, a now three-year-old son of Ivawood who looks a shrewd buy at just £3,500 from the 2021 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. Here, the operation's Jake Ward steps up to the Q&A plate.

Tell us about Cross Channel Racing - where, when and why did the idea originate, and who was involved?

Cross Channel Racing was created in 2019 by two individual racehorse owners, Mike Hocking and Matt Seedel, who each saw the opportunity of bringing together a wide group of like-minded individuals onto the racecourse. Cross Channel Racing offers not only member shares in racehorses but also the opportunity to be part of a much broader sports club that offers access to exclusive events, golf memberships and networking among former sports stars.

The name of the club was chosen as the original idea was to have a satellite yard in France, but, given the Covid-19 pandemic, it meant all the growth was focused on the UK. Since then, Karl Pearson has been brought in as racing director, and myself as managing director, to manage the entire club.

And how has it gone so far?

We've all been delighted with the success in both the club and on the racecourse, with 34 winners recorded since we started. We have in total just over 50 members and that number is growing each and every day, which we're thrilled with. Despite the pandemic and lockdown measures, we initially got a great group of core members who have stuck with us throughout and are now reaping the rewards of the club’s recent success.  

Our big breakthrough year was 2021, when we recorded 16 winners. At that point we had around 25 horses in training and most of them were low-grade handicappers. But it was the debut win of Blue Collar Lad at Bath in April 2021 that really set us on our current path. He was purchased as a yearling from Book 4 of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls for just 1,000gns and went on to win on his debut at 16-1, before then going on to finish second in a top nursery at Glorious Goodwood. He was the main reason that in the autumn of 2021 we went back to the yearling sales, this time buying 12! 

Blue Collar Lad and Sean Levey (blue cap) set Cross Channel Racing on their way at Bath in April 2021 Credit: Alan Crowhurst

In 2022 we had a smaller string of horses that were more focused around the 12 two-year-olds. We started the year with Jiffy Boy finishing third in the Brocklesby, before then going on to win at Leicester. He subsequently ran in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood before being sold privately. He was a 1,500gns purchase as a yearling, and we sold him for £50,000.

We then were able to get Direct Security on the track, a lovely natured filly by Sioux Nation who we bought as a yearling for £2,500. She finished second on her debut, then won a nice novice at Kempton, before then getting black type in the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury. She was subsequently sold at the Tattersalls horses-in-training sale for 135,000gns.

Then to close 2022, we had Captain Cisco make his debut at Lingfield, where, despite being drawn 14, he won at 50-1. It was an amazing 2022 and really cemented our strategy of focusing on two-year-olds. As a club, we had a total of 15 winners and from our crop of 12 yearlings bought in 2021, seven hit the track as two-year-olds, with three of them winning.

What do you tell those who make inquiries - what are the club's main attractions?

We truly believe racehorse ownership is for everyone, and that everybody should get to enjoy that buzz of being in the winner's enclosure. That's why we are very particular with the horses we have in training as, unfortunately, not all horses are capable of winning races and so we are not afraid to sell, or allow our retired racehorses to pursue new careers in dressage for example.

CCR offers something very different to your usual syndicate. The racing club allows members to be there on course for any of our horses in training. We also regularly host events at our trainer Robyn Brisland's Danebury Stables and give members full access behind the scenes. The entire club operates via our members app as we feel it so important that everyone has access to regular updates.

Where do you hope to take things in 2023 and into the future?

Last year was brilliant for us but we have aspirations this year to go even further. We purchased ten yearlings across the autumn last year so we are ready to unleash those on the track this year as two-year-olds. Each year our aim is to improve the crop, but we want to do it in the right way. We won’t be seen to be throwing large sums of money around, and would much rather gradually increase the pot going towards yearlings each year and naturally purchase better and better horses.

We all want to be targeting the big meetings, the Royal Ascots and Glorious Goodwoods, and now we’ve had a taste of it, we won’t stop there!

How many horses have you got on the books right now and who are your names to note?

Right now we have 30 horses in training, including the ten bought as yearlings in 2022. In terms of names to note, it’s a difficult one, because half of our horses haven't seen a racecourse yet. But we have a couple of nice three-year-olds who will make their debuts later this year and who we hope are above average.

Rixo Lad, a gelding by Kuroshio, and Dadavic, a gelding by Ivawood, both look nice types. Then from the ten two-year-olds, it’s still too early to tell, but we did end up having to pay up for a really nice-looking colt by Le Brivido. He is a nice-moving sort and one to keep an eye on for sure.

What do you look for at the sales, and who is involved in the buying team?

All credit for the success we’ve had with purchasing yearlings must go to Robyn Brisland and the team at Danebury Stables. He and his wife Jo have an incredible eye for yearlings and are the sole reason for the success we have had in both 2021 and 2022.

The model has always been to look at cheaper yearlings who still have attractive pages and are nice movers. It’s easier said than done, but there are so many yearlings paraded at various sales these days that there is a lot of supply to go through. What’s been important to us and the team is to find those early types we can target at races in March and April. Now that we have had success with Jiffy Boy in the Brocklesby, we would love to target one or two there every year.

Any particular auctions you prefer, and if so, why?

We have purchased yearlings from all sales so far, from Tattersalls in Newmarket to Goffs UK and even overseas in Ireland. For the team, it’s been about finding value as there are always a whole host of yearlings with fantastic pages.

Stallions-wise, do you have any you favour, be they UK-based or in France or Ireland? 

What we’ve tended to buy over the past couple of years have been horses by first-season-sires. Some of the lesser-profile sires who have their first crop going through the ring, those youngsters are naturally a lot cheaper and you can often unearth some really nice types. Direct Security, by Sioux Nation, was a good example of this.

Recently, though, we’ve started to become a bit attached to Ivawood. Our 95-rated sprinter, Power Over Me, is by him, and so is Captain Cisco, who won on New Year's Eve. We’ve got another Ivawood debutant to come later this year as a three-year-old, Dadavic, who really is a lovely horse, and we're hoping he can keep our good luck going with Ivawood offspring.