'I wasn't getting any enjoyment' - owner moves to fourth trainer in under a year

The latest twist in the fast-moving story of owner Syd Hosie, who parted company with two salaried trainers last year before moving his string to Harriet Brown, has resulted in his going back to his roots by sending four horses to Colin Tizzard.

Hosie's flagship horse Lieutenant Rocco, now on the sidelines with a pelvis injury, was initially trained by Tizzard and his son and assistant Joe, but the businessman set up a private operation two years ago when he installed Nick Mitchell, who saddled The Listener to win Down Royal's Grade 1 Champion Chase in 2009.

That relationship came to an end last year and Mitchell was replaced by Ralph Smith, whose time at Sandhills Farm in Dorset lasted a matter of months due to a disagreement over training methods.

Nick Mitchell: linked up with Hosie in 2020

Hosie, who is contemplating training himself, switched the horses to little-known Brown but is now back in the Tizzard fold at their Sherborne base.

That town is the home of the drainage company Hosie runs with his brother Martyn, and he said: "A few nice ones have gone to the Tizzards. I've friends who are owners in the yard and hopefully we can have some fun up there and share the passion.

"Four have gone up, but Lieutenant Rocco is back with me at home as he injured his pelvis in his last run at Warwick. We're waiting on the bone scan with him and he's out for the season, but pelvis injuries aren't too bad. It's painful but not like doing a leg.

"Joe and I haven't spoken about whether he'll go to them, but Supreme Commander, Mascat, Harlem Soul and Coal Stock have gone there."

Lieutenant Rocco: useful chaser is on the sidelinesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hosie revealed that the remainder of his horses would likely be based – out of training – at home with him.

"I doubt I'll have any with Harriet and then possibly have a rethink on where they go in the future," he said. "Me and Harriet are absolutely fine, but I wasn't getting any enjoyment out of going racing on my own.

"I employed a trainer but was going racing on my own all the time, which is not what I enjoy. I want to go with other owners and when you have horses in training with someone like Colin you get to meet a lot of people.

"There's a nice network of people, which I haven't been getting. Lieutenant Rocco moved in the first place because I took the training in-house and me training will be in the hands of the BHA if I decide to reapply for a licence.

"I've just got to have a chat with my brother and see where we go. We have to work out what we're doing and get the enjoyment back before we make any decisions."

Joe Tizzard said: "We had horses for Syd a few years ago and then he decided to have a go on his own. It hasn't quite worked but our door was never shut, so when he phoned me on Thursday I had no problem taking four horses back."

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