We continue in our series of 2020 Vision articles with the focus on Mark Wallis who is four weeks away from sealing his eighth Trainers Championship title in a row and his eleventh overall.
Asked how he would remember the 2019 campaign compared to the others, the Lakenheath handler describes it as “a game of two halves”.
A better description might be “a win in Fergie time”. Because for long periods of the year, Mark was lagging in the wake of his former right hand man and close friend Patrick Janssens.
At ‘half time’, Mark was a mere 32 points behind the Big Belgian (458-426) but by early August the deficit was around 230 points. The lead finally changed hands in early October and the gap gradually increased.
Over the year, four Cat One trophies made their way back to Imperial Kennels: The Regency (Aayamza Breeze), the Champion Stakes (Aayamza Express), the TV Trophy (Bumblebee Bullet) and the Kent St.Leger (Antigua Fire). There were also smaller stake wins for Chubbys Caviar and Antigua Fire.
It says so much about the kennel that both Aaayamza Breeze and Aayamza Express both returned from apparent career ending injuries to win big.
Aayamza Breeze’s Hove win came 21 months after breaking a hock at the same track. Express pulled a main tendon away from the bone and was originally rehabilitated by Karol Ramsbottom in Ireland.
Mark said: “I felt that the Regency win (in April) was just the first glimmer of hope but I knew we were in business when Bumblebee Bullet led home Breeze for a 1-2 in the TV Trophy. I just love that Steve Nash photo.
“I thought Patrick had a brilliant year but the injuries slowed him up. The difference in the end was our four Cat One wins against his two. I have always maintained that no matter how many minor opens you get, the big points are always in Cat One events.
“As for Patrick, he has a good young kennel and he will be back stronger than ever next year, guaranteed.”
Mark always takes a fairly short term view of open race planning and the two events concentrating his mind in 2020 are the Coronation Cup at Romford and the Golden Jacket at Crayford.
He said: “Given the success we have had over the six bends at Romford, it came as a bit of a shock not to have a runner in the Essex Vase Final. Hopefully we can put that right in the Coronation Cup.
“Aayamza Express aggravated the old injury before the Vase. It was a slightly different problem in that she was spiked on the tendon, but that has now been treated and she is ready to trial.
“I would love to win a competition with Brinkleys Poet at some stage and he is running very well. Alien Sea has also stepped up a gear in recent weeks. With any luck, possibly Chubbys Caviar, and we may even have the veteran Saleen Ash back after a calf injury.
“As far as the Golden Jacket is concerned, we only really have Antigua Fire, though I would think he would have a decent chance.
“Looking at the kennel overall, most of our dogs are well exposed at this stage. But you never know, the likes of Antigua Romeo and Coolavanny Messi, who are both running very well in one-offs, might go on to land competitions.
“In terms of younger dogs, Antigua Breeze stands out. He is the best prospect we have had in many years, and at the moment, our only likely Derby entry.
“I think the world of the pup, but I don’t suppose we could re-open Wimbledon, given his early pace and wide seeding?
“Overall it is a pretty balanced kennel, with quality over most distances, excluding a couple of high class middle distance dogs. One star who we are looking to retire is Aayamza Breeze whose last race will hopefully be the Boxing Day Marathon.”
“Looking ahead, I am looking forward to Towcester re-opening, hopefully with the planned high quality opens on a Saturday.
“But I certainly won’t be abandoning Monmore who have been so brilliant this year and try so hard. So I will split the kennel on Saturday and hopefully continue to have plenty more runners at Romford on Friday nights.”
So is there one rule change or anything that the champion trainer would like to see done differently in 2020?
Mark replies: “No not really. There have been so many changes and improvements in the last couple of years to make life easier for trainers.
“I suppose the only thing I would ask is for the last remaining poor track kennels to be improved. I would say there are only two or three bad ones, which I don’t intend to name.
“But if everyone could get to the same standard as Monmore and Nottingham, it would be so much better for the dogs.”
