A Morning on the Gallops including Breakfast for 2 people

It is difficult to imagine a more upbeat trainer than Emma Lavelle. Oozing positivity she is someone who enjoys a laugh.

Her historic yard on the Wiltshire downs near Marlborough is sandwiched between those of Neil King and Alan King. “I am a queen between two kings,” she jokes.

However, don’t think for a minute that behind the easy-going façade she is not deadly serious about her ambitions. Given that her stable is increasingly full of some serious equine talent, she has every reason to be optimistic about the immediate future, as well as the longer term.

Lavelle has 70 full boxes at her Bonita yard, where Sir Gordon Richards once trained, as did Bob Turnell and latterly Peter Makin. The quality of the gallops is such that Lester Piggott declared they were the best he had ever ridden on.

While the undoubted star of the yard is Paisley Park there is increasing strength in depth, with Lavelle gradually improving the quality around her, due in no small measure to the eleven year old’s exploits.

Lavelle is under no illusions that while results and regime are important, owners want to enjoy themselves. “The one thing we have to remember as trainers is that we are in the entertainment industry - it has to be fun for people and owners. That is the greatest thing that Toby Balding instilled into me, you have to make it special for them."

She started out as a trainer in 1998 aged just 25 with this maxim from Paul Barber, owner of the likes of the great Denman, which resonates to this day.

“He told me that bad horses make bad trainers. I didn’t want to be operating at the bottom end trying to make ends meet. I always wanted to be at the top table."

“Accordingly, if that didn’t look like it was happening, I would still be young enough to change tack. But that hasn’t happened - I am still here!”

The way she is going, she’ll be here for a whole lot longer.
 

Date to be arranged by mutual agreement within 12 months of the Auction

Owned by: Thanks to Emma Lavelle for this donation to the auction