NZ Trainer Turns Down Singapore Offer
- Friday, 29 January 2010 02:15
Next week's national yearling sales will have extra importance for trainer Roger James after his decision to decline an offer to train in Singapore.
James told the Waikato Times he wanted to "consolidate" in New Zealand rather than try his luck in the lucrative Singapore racing scene.
James said the Singapore Turf Club had invited him to take up a position there and he had inspected facilities and spoken to trainers Laurie Laxon, Bruce Marsh and Michael Freedman as well as consulting veterinarians before making a "tough decision".
"I thought long and hard and spoke to a few owners and have decided to stay loyal to the New Zealand industry," James said.
"It was a tough decision, but it's come down to some personal reasons and also because I wondered whether I would get the required support up there. I was honoured to be invited.
"I had a health scare brought on by stress and stress alone and I know the first couple of years up there would be pretty stressful," said James, who suffered a heart attack in December 2008.
He has decided to focus on his Cambridge operation and has applied to the local club to have additional boxes built so he can increase the size of his racing team.
James, regarded as the king of New Zealand Derby through four wins in the classic race, has prepared a team of 34 horses since moving to Cambridge nearly six years ago.
"It's been a big consideration and now I've decided against going, I've decided it's time to attack here. I'll identify horses within the team to hit the Australian carnivals on an increased basis."
With that in mind, James intends stocking up on potential stable stars at next week's yearling sales at Karaka.
James, who trains in partnership with Paul Mirabelli, has an enviable record with 65 Group and Listed wins among his domestic tally of more than 700 winners. Twenty-three of those have been at Group One level, including four in Australia.
He will attempt to embellish his record when he saddles both La Etoile and Firebolt in Saturday's Group One Thorndon Mile and Fiorano in the Group Two Wellington Cup (2400m) at Trentham.
La Etoile rates as the stable's better chance in the Thorndon, having brilliantly won the Group Two Rich Mile at Ellerslie earlier this month and produced an eye-catching effort for fifth in the listed Anniversary Handicap at Trentham on Monday.
James said he was also happy with Counties Cup runner-up Fiorano going into the Wellington Cup.
