Ellison Captures Spirit Of Adventure

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky–So who will it be? Who will go out onto that soggy track on Friday and, with apologies to Louis XV, pronounce: “Apres le deluge, moi!”

For while the downpour has moved the goalposts for those Europeans who targeted the 35th Breeders' Cup in the expectation of a test of pure speed, the opening programme–

being dedicated to juveniles-remains all about the coronation of young pretenders.

Even before the introduction of extra attrition to the turf events, of course, the vagaries of racing mean that the laurels won today will remain contentious. The important thing is that any submission is made with honour.

At Del Mar last year, for instance, a future Epsom Derby winner merited only a footnote of sympathy for the traffic he encountered in the Juvenile Turf. But a look back at that form shows just how triumphantly this race has matured since its inauguration in 2007.

Besides Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in sixth, the winner Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and fourth Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) have legitimate shots at the Classic itself on tomorrow's main card. Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis) did not get home in ninth but a few days ago won a Group 1 sprint at Ascot, while the next home James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was beaten just half a length at that level at Deauville in the summer. Several in the field have more or less disappeared, an inevitable hazard of the game, but others who were out of the money–such as subsequent Kentucky Derby fifth My Boy Jack (Creative Cause)–have managed supporting roles at the top level.

True, the incorporation of juvenile turf racing has virtually ended European participation in the equivalent dirt races. That seems a dreadful shame when you reflect on those spectacular rolls of the dice with Arazi (Blushing Groom) in 1991 and–in what has proved a historic moment for the breed, granted the influence of his son Scat Daddy–Johannesburg (Hennessy) 10 years later; never mind the longshot wins of Wilko (Awesome Again) and Vale Of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirirt {Ire}), which showed the rewards available to those of sufficient adventure.

But those who have convened from across the ocean have done so with an abundance of that spirit. They have, for instance, produced half the runners for the new Juvenile Turf Sprint, where success for Pocket Dynamo (Dialed In) would be fitting reward for Robert Cowell's enterprise and imagination in dredging Hip 2934 out of the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland last year for $35,000. Arguably, however, none of the raiders have required more initiative against the odds than Brian Ellison.

Here is a man to show how horsemanship can dismantle social and geographical barriers. True, in common with so many other talented trainers in Yorkshire, he might as well be galloping his horses on the moon as regards those owners, managers and agents who, even if they are prepared to place a horse outside Newmarket, will never do so beyond their own social background.

Ellison's father, in contrast, was a fitter in the Tyneside shipyards and his mother a shop assistant. None of Ellison's seven siblings have shared his vocation for the Turf: they work in factories, classrooms, and so forth. He himself left school at 15, however, rode a winner within 18 months of sitting on a horse for the first time and, after a journeyman riding career, took out a training licence in 1989 with just three horses.

And if he has long since established himself as one of the most accomplished dual-licence trainers in Britain, with over 1,000 winners, the fact remains that he has had to find his way to the Breeders' Cup with a filly purchased for just £9,000.

The Mackem Bullet (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), it hardly needs stating, will not be among the favourites for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf. But she, like her trainer, is making a habit of confounding the odds. She was 25-1 when going down by just a nose to Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G2 Lowther S. at York in August, with apprentice partner Ben Robinson unable to use his claim. When the two fillies lined up for the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket next time, however, Fairyland started second favourite and The Mackem Bullet under Oisin Murphy was again 25-1. Nonetheless the pair repeated their 1-2 finish, virtually to the pound.

One person who had recognised the merit of The Mackem Bullet's York performance had been Katsumi Yoshida, who bought her in between the two races. That locked in a good profit for Brian Robe, who had found her at the Goffs UK Doncaster Silver Sale and sent her to Ellison after trying him out with a gelding named Little Jo (GB) (Major Cadeaux {GB}). Having arrived in Ellison's yard this time last year with a rating of 50, Little Jo has since won four handicaps in six starts, most recently beaten half a length in the Silver Cambridgeshire, and lines up at Newmarket on Friday off 81. Little wonder if Robe, whose allegiance to Sunderland is evinced by the name he gave this filly, is prepared to entrust his horses to a diehard supporter of his club's great rivals, Newcastle United.

For it is only in his financial resources that anyone can condescend to describe Ellison as David against Goliath. Yes, it seems incongruous to run into this tough, squat bulldog of a Geordie outside the quarantine barn on the Churchill back stretch. But he has long since proved that his skills are equal to any environment. And while bad luck has repeatedly thwarted his best horses, some day it is all going to fall into place.

“Latalomne (Zilzal) only cost £8,000 and fell in front at the second last two years running in the Champion Chase,” Ellison recalls. “Carte Diamond (Theatrical {Ire}) was third favourite for the Melbourne Cup after his run in the Caulfield Cup, and he was bouncing. Then when we took him down to Flemington, the week before the race, the jockey fell off and he went through the rail.”

Definitly Red (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}) was one of the favourites for the 2017 Grand National when brought to a standstill by a faller at Becher's Brook. But the race Ellison has notoriously craved all his career is the Northumberland Plate, part of the folklore in the unprivileged neighbourhood where he was raised. “Especially because I was born on Plate day,” he says. “The chance I had was with Seamour (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) when he went clear and got caught [in 2016]. Now that they've put it on the all-weather I'd say it'll be very hard to win. I'd rather win a Breeders' Cup anyway.”

Two extra furlongs on changing ground would seem the obvious impediment to The Mackem Bullet, but her progress has been so steep that nobody can know where it might end.

“She came in late, in fact she was the last of all my yearlings to come in,” Ellison explains. “I don't like my horses knocked about on their first run, I want them to enjoy it, but Ben came in and said this is definitely a nice filly. On her next start, at Musselburgh, she should probably have won but it was a good race anyway, the second came out and won a big sales race at York. And then she absolutely hosed up at Carlisle. Every run, she's improved.”

Murphy rode The Mackem Bullet into third in her stakes debut in the G3 Keeneland Princess Margaret S. at Ascot. “And Oisin thought they should have been second, they were drawn on the outside and saw too much daylight,” Ellison says. “But he also said she wants further. And Ben said the same at York, she was just touched off but after the line he couldn't pull her up. There are horses in the family that got a mile and one, a mile and two [furlongs].”

Robinson, joining his boss outside the barn, admits that the filly has been somewhat lit up by the novelty of her environment. In principle, however, he reckons that her progress in form has been matched in terms of temperament. “She's a bit buzzy here so it's just a case of trying to keep a lid on her,” says Robinson, who again cedes the mount to the more seasoned Murphy today. “But when I think back to her first three races, she buried me in the parade ring every time. Now she's getting used to it all, and with that she has really been coming to herself.”

Robinson plans to preserve his 3lbs claim for next year by a winter riding work in Dubai, but it will soon be back to basics for Ellison.

“I'll be at Hexham next week,” the trainer says. “We've a couple of nice jumpers to run there. They're all horses. Obviously the jumpers have a lot of long steady work to start with, but as they get into it they will still breeze six furlongs too. I started off as a jumps trainer, and if doing both is mainly financial-you've got your staff to keep-I enjoy [the year-round action] anyway, absolutely love it. I've been in the game 51 years, and the only thing I'd want to change is just to have better horses.

“It's very hard to buy one: anything that's for sale, and any good, people like me can't afford to buy them. Malton is great place to train, with some really good trainers, but it's like football. It's hard to get the good players to Newcastle, because they all think the world stops at London or Manchester, and owners probably think the same way about Newmarket.

“But our horses, they get treated out of this world. I'd think very hard about paying 50 quid for a pair of shoes, if I can get a pair for £20. But I wouldn't think for a moment about spending a hundred-and-odd pounds for a rug for a horse. We make do with a snack here, a snack there. Whereas they get the best of feed, the best of hay, the best of everything.”

Win, lose or draw, Ellison is at least aiming his Bullet to make the most of limited ammunition. In his riding days, he used to keep fit by sparring in the boxing gym and was suitably riveted by a visit to the museum honouring Louisville's most famous son, Muhammad Ali. And nobody could be surprised if Ellison yet again ends up punching above his weight.