'What Zoe didn't know about horses wasn't worth knowing' - Simon Clare's tribute

Ladbrokes Coral PR director Simon Clare, a close friend to Zoe Davison and an owner in the yard, pays tribute to the trainer

Zoe was just the most wonderful human being imaginable – kind, generous, ludicrously hard-working, single-minded and stubborn when she wanted to be, and the very best fun to be around. What she didn't know about horses wasn't worth knowing. She was quite brilliant with them.

She loved her horses and her large family in equal measure, and surrounded herself with them all, which explains why Shovelstrode Stables is such a vibrant, happy place to be, crawling with horses, people, dogs, chickens and kids, with a great sense of purpose and ambition.

Zoe was the most talented horsewoman imaginable. She spent much of her career being sent racehorses with limited ability, or who had lost their form, been injured or had proved untrainable elsewhere. More often than not she would identify and solve their physical and mental issues and get them to be the best and happiest racehorses they could be.

Simon Clare: 'She is so incredibly well-loved and will be desperately missed by everyone'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Over the last few years I know how much satisfaction and pleasure she took from finally being given the chance to train better-quality horses from the start of their careers, which has seen her enjoy her best seasons, with 15 winners in 2017-18, and nine winners last season before it ended early due to Covid.

Sunday's double took this season's tally to five winners and there will no doubt be more to come given the quality and form of the racehorses now in the stable, and the strength of the team Zoe has assembled with Andy and Gemma.

It was so desperately unfair for Zoe that after beating breast cancer nearly two decades ago it returned four and a half years ago. The bravery and positivity she has displayed in her battle against this awful disease has been an inspiration to everyone around her. The fact this battle coincided with her most successful period as a racehorse trainer was testimony to her amazing work ethic and commitment to her horses.

She is so incredibly well-loved and will be desperately missed by everyone who knew her.

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