Freddie Player proving a fine judge of pinhooks at the age of just 14

Behind one of the most exciting juvenile talents seen this season is another young rising star of the sport.

Method, who earned quotes for the 2,000 Guineas after an impressive victory in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, was the pinhook choice of Freddie Player, the 14-year-old son of Whatton Manor Stud's Ed and Katherine.

The teenager has a record that many older hands would envy, as Method is only his second involvement in one of the Nottinghamshire stud's foal investments – the first being last season's Group 3 Mercury Stakes scorer Dr Simpson.

Neither stakes winner made Player a fortune. Method, a son of first-season sire Mehmas, was sourced as a foal for €16,000 and resold as a yearling for £20,000, while the Dandy Man filly Dr Simpson's price went from 7,000gns to £24,000 in the same time frame.

But both horses are doing a fine job of advertising Player's eye for the right raw materials and an attractive page, which has been honed by assisting various agents at the sales.

“So far they're my only pinhooks,” he says. “I have to admit at the time I was very disappointed that neither sold better, as I really liked them – and my younger brother's pinhook made him a fortune!

“However, I was taught from an early age that it was more important that they are successful on the track than in the sales ring. So, as you can imagine, they have been very exciting to follow.”

Player got the bloodstock bug early in life, drawn in by an earlier successful sales graduate from Whatton Manor Stud.

Method: son of Mehmas has earned quotes for the 2,000 GuineasCredit: Francesca Altoft Photography

“I started to get really interested in racing when I was nine, especially following the stud's Besharah, who was pinhooked by my father and Ed Sackville, and have been hooked ever since,” he says.

“So when my father said that if I passed my 11-plus to get into my secondary school I'd be given a share in one of his pinhooks, I was really excited. Luckily I passed and Dr Simpson was my choice.”

School has prevented the budding industry expert from attending the foal sales to pick his own pinhooks in person, so physiques and pedigrees are scrutinised back at the stud instead.

“Sadly I can't make it to the sales so my father and Ed Sackville buy various foals and when the horses get home I study the pedigrees and the individuals before selecting the foal,” says Player.

“I like foals to have a good flowing walk and to be correct, but given our budget some faults can be forgiven. With Method, I felt that he had a good hip, was well grown and had real presence.”

He adds of the Martyn Meade-trained colt's success on Saturday: “I watched the race from home and was very relieved to see him win. I hope – and really believe – that he can go on and be successful in Group races.”

With Player already having two stakes winners under his belt, the question many heading to the yearlings sales will be itching to know is what has he given his seal of approval to next?

“I have a lovely Starspangledbanner colt out of Jazz Cat, a full-sister to Thawaany and a half-sister to Kew Gardens and Snow,” he reveals. “He's a very strong and athletic horse and will go to Book 2. I have high hopes for him.”

Dr Simpson: Dandy Man filly sold for £24,000 as a yearlingCredit: Alain Barr

Player's latest pinhook, a 20,000gns foal purchase, received several welcome boosts at the weekend. Snow ran a creditable fifth in the Irish Oaks, while Aloha Star became the second stakes winner from Starspangledbanner's two-year-old crop with victory in the Airlie Stud Stakes.

And so the omens are encouraging for Player's continued smooth progress through the industry, with the eventual aim of following father Ed and grandfather Peter into maintaining Whatton Manor Stud's status as one of Britain's leading commercial farms.

“I'm lucky enough to have been able to go around the yearling sales with Howson and Houldsworth Bloodstock, Sackville Donald and Blandford Bloodstock and have been taught so much,” he says.

“I'm very keen to keep learning from lots of different bloodstock agents. But I would also like to learn about all other aspects of the industry, and travel the world doing so. Then I would love to come back and work at Whatton.”

One side-effect of the coronavirus lockdown is that it has allowed Player to immerse himself deeper into life on the stud, even if it has been disruptive to his regular education.

“It's enabled me to see much more of the televised racing and it's also meant I can get more of a grip of what's been happening on the stud through helping my dad feed the foals and yearlings and checking on mares,” he says. “I'm keen to help this year with the yearling preparation, which is just starting.”

All in all, it seems unlikely that this will be the last time that Player is interviewed in the Racing Post for his exploits in the sales arena.

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