TRACK TALK – Bristolred
TRACK TALK | Bristolred
01/04/2014 by PHAR LAP from THE BLACK TYPE BUGLER
Today is ISSUE 17 of TRACK TALK. We will spend some time with one of the top trainers in our great game Derby Fever. The powerful Bristolred stable. Breeder and trainer of recent Equinics winners New Street and London Mistress
NEW STREET
SIRE STREET CRY DAM SIRE A.P. INDY DDS SADLER’S WELLS
LONDON MISTRESS
SIRE PIVOTAL DAM SIRE RAINBOW QUEST DDSNORTHERN DANCER 
Stables Winning strike rate 26.3 % ITM 56.5 %
Member of the Empire State Racing residency
PHAR LAP: Hi Mark, thanks for taking the time for this interview.
Mark: Thanks for including me, been a great series of interviews and added greatly to the sim.
PHAR LAP: Where do you come from Mark?
Mark: I live in the North Eastern US, but it all started in England for me.
PHAR LAP: Have you a racing background and can you give us an insight on how you got involved in this great game.
Mark: Nothing specific in terms of racing background, except that my father took me as a kid in England to see the races and it all started from there. We went to all the local courses around where I grew up Chepstow, Newbury and many others In the UK. From flat races to jumps it was a great learning experience. Then when we moved to the US, I got to watch to the best horses in run in NY right when Easy Goer and Sunday Silence were going up against each other. As to how I got into this game, it was by pure luck on the internet. Good luck and it’s been a fun ride.
PHAR LAP: Could you tell us how long you have been breeding and training in Derby Fever.
Mark: I started playing in 2001, but had a nice long break between I think 2004 and 2010. Now I have really picked it up since 2010 and finally turned the corner.
PHAR LAP: NEW STREET might end up your best horse so far, correct me if I am wrong, can you tell us about some other stars in your stables.
Mark: Yeah, there a few I would like to show you
BRISTOL BARON(An older Star probably in the twilight of his career, my first really good horse, 2nd in an Equinics race, highest ever speed for me)
SIRE PIVOTAL DAM SIRE DANEHILL DDS ROBERTO
SWANSEA TRIUMPH
SIRE MONTJEU DAM SIRE KINGMAMBO DDS A.P. INDY 
CARDIFF CROSS
SIRE CAPE CROSS DAM SIRE FORTY NINER DDS KINGMAMBO
CANTERBURY QUEEN
SIRE DEEP IMPACT DAM SIRE NUREYEV DDS MILL REEF
PHAR LAP: Breeding and training are passions of yours Mark, have you any horses that are getting you excited?
Ryan: Yeah, there a few I would like to show you
CARDIFF PRINCESS (An older mare hopefully hitting her stride now she has matured)
SIRE MALIBU MOON DAM SIRE NORTHERN DANCER DDS ALYDAR
STAR ANEW
SIRE SEA THE STARS DAM SIRE SADLER’S WELLS DDS KINGMAMBO
LUCKY RED
SIRE LOOKIN AT LUCKY DAM SIRE STORM CAT DDS FORTY NINER
ESKENHILL
SIRE ESKENDEREYA DAM SIRE DANEHILL DDS MR. PROSPECTOR
CARDIFF DYNASTY
SIRE TAPIT DAM SIRE DANEHILL DDS FORTY NINER
JUMBO CHOICE
SIRE REDOUTE’S CHOICE DAM SIRE A.P. INDY DDS RIVERMAN
CHEPSTOW RUNNER
SIRE AWESOME AGAIN DAM SIRE STORM CAT DDS SEATTLE SLEW
PIVOTAL NEWBURY
SIRE PIVOTAL DAM SIRE DANZIG DDS ROBERTO
PHAR LAP: Breeding is one of the most exciting aspects of the game in my opinion. Have you any secrets you would like to share with us, we all would like a horse of NEW STREET’s class and quality.
Mark: With New Street I have taken a liking to Street Cry, and I really like Sadler’s Wells and A.P. Indy. Two producers that I am happy to pair with any sires.
PHAR LAP: Without giving away all your secrets, have you any favorites as Sire, Dams Sire and Dams Dam Sire?
Mark: No real secrets in the sim, I like to find combinations that have worked in the past, but I do have some favorites. At sire I have had the most success with Pivotal and Street Cry. For the back-end I love using Danehill, Roberto, Mill Reef, Sadler’s Wells, Danzing and A.P. Indy. I love to try some first year or newer sires and am especially fond of New Approach, Pour Moi, Dawn Approach and Declaration of War.
PHAR LAP:Do you prefer scratch breeding or breeding to your good retired race mares? Do you like using he mares?
Mark: I do like using mares, but unfortunately I don’t have a huge brood of good ones yet. Hoping that changes soon when a few of my better mares move past their peak. Happy to use the occasional open mare as well, but I kind of do enjoy scratch breeding a ton. Don’t think that will ever change. It’s always fun to pair a good back-end with a first year sire.
PHAR LAP: OK Mark, we all know breeding is only one aspect of the game, once you get a good horse and get your maiden out of the way, the skill of the trainer then comes into play. Do you have any training preferences you would like to share with us? I am sure there are fellow trainers out there that would appreciate some advice from a trainer of your standing.
Mark: Well I like to run my horses through conditions, some might say too conservatively but I like to do that. Usually I like to get through a NW4L or NW4X before running a stakes race. And I run them every 7-8 weeks as 2 year olds so I hopefully get good 3 and 4 year olds, but to each his/her own.
PHAR LAP:If you could pass on one piece of advice, what would that be?
Mark: Something that has helped me a lot has been to look at sites like Coolmore Stud or other breeders and look at nicks, etc. Coolmore Stud is a favorite and has a ton of good information up. Very useful to look at real life successes as possible combo’s.
PHAR LAP:Here we go Mark, jockeys!!! Great people, but they can be a real pain in the backside sometimes. Do you call the shots or let them ride their own race?
Mark: I’d say 99.9% of the time I usually let the jockey’s control their own races. I have noticed when you have a slightly worse jockey you might get a worse ride.
PHAR LAP:Do you pay big incentives to get the best jockeys?
Mark: I have started to pay a little more attention as I have been lucky to have some good horses and feel like it is worth it to have a good jockey on board.
PHAR LAP:Do you have a favorite Jockey?
Mark: No favorite jockey really, I like the high percentage riders.
PHAR LAP:All right Mark, let’s look to the future, have you any big goals you have set yourself?
Mark: Well I had my first G1 last year which turned into four in a year so that was the goal I was looking to conquer. Also I finished 2nd in the Breeders Bowl, so I would say a Breeders Bowl win is close to the top. Long way down the road if I am lucky enough to get an Eclipse winner that would be huge, you have to dream in the SIM.
PHAR LAP:Have you any big races to win on your bucket list?
Mark: I’d love to win any of the big Euro turf races like the 2000 Guineas or Arc. And any of the Breeders Bowl races including the Breeders Bowl Turf would be great. The Derby is so hard to get there, I will only dream about that and hope.
PHAR LAP:If I was new to the game or had a problem horse that had me stumped or needed some help, where would you recommend I go?
Mark: Easy, go to the chat room and ask a few questions.
PHAR LAP:Can you recommend any Horse Racing Movies or Documentaries?
Mark: I actually really enjoy reading books about older star horses. The story of Desert Orchid, a great English Jumper, is definitely worth a read and if you can pair that up with his races on YouTube it’s a fun ride.
PHAR LAP: Are any there things in the game you would like changed or improved on?
Mark: I’d say the new sim is a great leap from the old sim and I am very happy with it. Nothing to change from my perspective, it’s much easier to use.
PHAR LAP:Well Mark, it has been a pleasure to hear your story. You are still relatively young in the game but you are really establishing yourself as a great trainer and I am sure our community will enjoy your thoughts and learn something from your experiences. Phar Lap and the Black Type Bugler thank you for your time and we hope success continues to ride with you.
GIDDEY UP from PHAR LAP (gcliffo)
