'She had an affinity with horses' - Robin Bastiman's tribute to daughter Rebecca

Robin Bastiman has spoken affectionately of his daughter Rebecca's special bond with horses following the trainer's death over the weekend.

The third generation of her family to train in Yorkshire, Rebecca Bastiman died on Saturday at the age of 40 following a long illness.

Her father Robin, who handed over the reins in 2015 after 40 years with a licence, said his daughter played a key role in the remarkable rags-to-riches story of Borderlescott, who rose from a modest rating of 64 to win back-to-back runnings of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in 2008 and 2009.

"She had an affinity with horses – it was unreal," said Bastiman. "She was Borderlescott's work-rider and rode him out all the time. She was the main person behind him."

Trainer Rebecca Bastiman dies aged 40 following long battle with illness

Rebecca Bastiman saddled more than 100 winners in her own right, as well as riding three winners as an amateur jockey, and showed an eye for horses from an early age.

"I remember taking Becky and her brother Harvey to Beverley one time on a school night," Bastiman recalled. "We all had a go on the Placepot and won a fair amount. Becky bought her mother [Pauline] a dress and herself a pony, and it wasn't long before she was cantering up the gallops behind the racehorses on the pony.

"She then started riding out the racehorses and she'd do one lot before going to school. She had to have her breakfast in the car on the way to school and wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth, that's for sure."

Rebecca Bastiman: saddled more than 100 winnersCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Rebecca had short stints working in Australia and in Dubai, but was called back to Goosemoor Farm in Cowthorpe to help with her father's operation, where she was a natural at dealing with wayward horses.

"We bought a horse called Turgenev, who won the November Handicap for John Gosden, and he'd lost the plot and was proving to be a right handful," said Bastiman. "He wouldn't gallop or do anything, but Becky coaxed it out of him and he won quite a few races for us.

"When she took over the licence, she did things her way and did quite well. To train 100 winners with a lot of moderate horses – that's a real trainer. I've trained a Group 1 horse and they're easy."

Borderlescott: the much-loved little sprint wonder with the huge heart

Bastiman added: "She did have a few good horses like Hayadh, who won the Thirsk Hunt Cup, but a day that sticks out was when she had a double with two moderate horses. That was a classic example of what she could do."

Bastiman's father Deryck started the family training business and his son Harvey is planning to take over, at least in the short term.

"We're down to 12 horses and it's been a tough time with the pandemic," Bastiman said. "My son will be applying for a temporary licence for three months and will take a view of how it's going. It's always been a family run job."

Rebecca's funeral will take place on Wednesday, March 31, at Harrogate Crematorium. Donations can be made to Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity.

Members can click here to download the digital newspaper every evening from 9pm. Not a member? Click here to sign up and enjoy the digital newspaper every day