Former apprentice jockey Gemma Tutty turned her attentions to training when she took over the reins at Trenholme House Farm from her mother, Karen, in 2022. Based in North Yorkshire, Tutty enjoyed notable success with her select team in 2024 and is hoping to pick up where she left off when the Flat season on turf gets underway in less than 10 weeks.
The yard sent out 27 winners and won just shy of £400,000 in prize-money in 2024. How do you reflect on last year as a whole?
On reflection, it surpassed all expectations by a long way and, hopefully, helped to demonstrate our versatility as a team by ticking some more boxes off. I was concerned after the success of Mostly Cloudy (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) in my first season that I may be pigeonholed as an expert in 'slow horses' due to him being a two-miler, so to have a progressive sprinter now rated 104 and several juvenile debutant winners in 2024 was really pleasing and a real credit to the team. I daresay we've got our work cut out for this year now, but that's a challenge we're happy to have.
What was your highlight of 2024 on the racecourse?
We've been very lucky that there are several big days to choose from, but I think I would have to go with Blue Storm (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) winning at Epsom on Derby Day in the 3YO “Dash”. It was my first visit to the track and the whole day was a huge buzz, particularly as the biggest trainers in the game were all present ahead of the big race.
How many horses would you currently have in training and do you have ambitions to grow the yard further in the years to come?
We started with 18 boxes licensed and have grown that number to 26 boxes currently. I have just submitted planning for 10 more, which we're really hopeful gets permitted. I do have further ideas for expansion in mind if we continue to grow, but I prefer to do so at a pace that feels comfortable to us all. I'm really proud of what we've built as a team and I'm mindful that I don't want to drastically change that.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
I am very lucky that I have had the opportunity to ride out in dozens of yards over the years and travel internationally through racing, seeing many operations across different codes and countries. I've ridden out for Saeed bin Suroor in Dubai, Guillaume Macaire in France, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O'Neill, Kevin Ryan, Alan Swinbank, David Barron, Mick Easterby, Ruth Carr, et al. I like to think I have taken a bit of everyone's methods forwards, finding what works best for us as a team. I'm not sure I could account the influence to one individual.
You also rode 74 winners in Britain as a jockey. What led to the decision to stop race-riding and to start a training career when you took over the licence from your mother, Karen, in 2022?
I had already done my training modules whilst I was still riding, so it was a gradual decision that I had been thinking about for a few years. I knew race-riding was never going to be forever for me and it was more of a hobby than a career choice. I was very fortunate that I was in a position to enjoy it for what it was, due to having a degree to fall back on if needs be. I'd taken over a lot of aspects of the training whilst the licence was still in Mum's name, so it didn't feel like a massive change on the practical front, but not race-riding was an adjustment at first. However, I've been far too busy to miss it since!
What was your best day in the saddle?
Thankfully, I appear to be a much better trainer than I was a jockey, but I did enjoy it, albeit at the lower levels. I think winning on my old stalwart Talent Scout (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) for the 10th time in his 11-year-old season would have to be up there. Winning on horses you absolutely adore is an amazing feeling.
And your best day since you started training?
There have been a good few highlights, particularly last season, but I think I'll have to go with Mostly Cloudy's fifth consecutive win, which came in the Brown Jack at Ascot on my first visit to the track. It was a pretty special day in my first season training–I was on cloud nine.
Give us a dark horse to follow for the year ahead?
I'm a big fan of the lightly-raced Thelma's Angel (Ire), a four-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire). She's only had two starts, finishing third on debut in a warm heat at Newcastle, followed by a decisive win at Ayr. I think she could be a special one.
Who is the best value stallion with the start of the breeding season just around the corner?
I would have a few in mind. Rajasinghe (Ire) I believe to be fantastic value at £3,000. He hasn't had many runners, but the statistics for those who have run are quite remarkable–47% of his runners were winners last year, including my own Singoura (GB). I'm also a big fan of Golden Horn (GB) at £10,000. He is consistently producing good-quality stock, year after year. I'll also be following the Ghaiyyath (Ire) three-year-olds closely this year.
What would make 2025 a good year for you?
I'd really like to get a domestic Group winner on the board. It's obviously not an easy feat, but I do believe I've got several horses for this year who could well be good enough. Aside from that, to keep operating at a healthy strike rate and for our owners to enjoy their season with us.
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