Britain's longest-standing training partnership is coming to an end following the news that Ed Crisford is set to succeed Michael Costa as head trainer at His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai.
Currently based at Gainsborough Stables in Newmarket, Crisford has shared the licence with his father, Simon, since May 2020 when the British Horseracing Authority first started accepting training partnerships. In the near-six years since, the Crisfords have sent out over 400 winners in Britain, with notable victories including that of Vandeek in the G1 Middle Park Stakes in 2023.
Further afield, Choisya was the winner of last year's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, while a successful winter for the partnership in Dubai has perhaps precipitated Ed Crisford's appointment at Jebel Ali Stables following Costa's decision to step down. Highlights included the success of Fairy Glen (Farhh) in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night, with Meydaan (Frankel) also finishing third in the main event after his triumph in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic.
Meydaan features among a number of horses already trained by the Crisfords for Sheikh Ahmed, along with the multiple Group 2 winner Quddwah (Kingman).
Announcing the end of the partnership, a statement attributed to the Crisfords on social media read, “Ed Crisford is set to become a licence holder in his own right in Dubai later this year after accepting a position as private trainer to Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“Simon and Ed Crisford formed the first licensed training partnership in Britain in May 2020 and have enjoyed significant success with 83 stakes winners, including Group 1 winners in Britain, France and the United States.
“Ed Crisford will leave Newmarket in August to begin his new role in the UAE. Simon Crisford will continue training at Gainsborough Thoroughbreds while also operating a satellite yard during the Dubai World Cup Carnival.”
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