Star New Zealand jumps jockey turned trainer, Craig Thornton, is relishing his time in China.
The experienced horseman is doing his bit to upskill participants in the emerging racing nation as he oversees a stable of 32 horses at the impressive Yulong racetrack, located in the county of Youyu, south of Inner Mongolia.
Thornton is four months into a year-long contract as a private trainer and the hands-on horseman said the experience is a positive one, despite a few teething problems.
“I was approached by Alex Teng, of Horse Feng Bloodstock, and he offered a position to me. I thought it sounded like an exciting venture,” Thornton said.
“I am the principal trainer for a gentleman called Hongwei Chen. He owns pretty much all the horses and we’ve got 32 in training at the moment. We have got some nice horses from Australia and New Zealand that we are looking forward to racing.
“It is how it is done here. They principally employ a trainer and the bulk of the stables are owned by a sole proprietor.
“It has had its challenges, but I enjoy working with the horses and I just focus on the job ahead and I am enjoying it.
“I have had a bit of exposure internationally, so I am comfortable, and everyone has been very welcoming.”
Although the facility at Yulong is somewhat isolated, some familiar faces have made Thornton feel at ease on his Chinese adventure to date, with Mauritian-born rider Kevin Kalychurun in his second season in the region, while Luke Danis, father of jockey Darren, is also training there.
Also enjoying a brief stint in Youyu is Te Awamutu trainer Clint Isdale who, like Thornton, is assisting in upskilling local horsemen and women and consulting to one of the many stables domiciled at the training and racing centre in Yulong on a fly-in, fly-out basis.
The racing season at Yulong lasts for 19 weeks before stables relocate to other racetracks in China, akin to many training and racing establishments in the United States.
Thornton has been impressed with the quality of horses competing on the circuit, with racing taking place over four distances – 1000m, 1200m, 1600m and 1800m.
With five or six races on each card the norm, the minimum prizemoney is 50,000 RMB (NZ$11,000), while the richest race over the 19 meetings, the Chairman’s Cup (1600m), contested at weight-for-age, is worth 2 million RMB (NZ$442,000).
The China Horse Owners Alliance have recently announced that from 2020, a 1200m two-year-old race worth 3 million RMB (NZ$663,000) will be introduced.
“The prizemoney is generally funded by the pool of 20 or so owners, a little bit like an old fashion sweepstake,” Thornton said.
“There is a bit of support from some of the sales companies sponsoring races but a lot of it is private funding.
“It is a great market for Australia and New Zealand. A lot of our horses are here, and it is a great outlet for us as an industry.
“We’re working with the Chinese racing industry, helping each other essentially.
“I am doing my best. I am trying to get involved with everybody and help them out as much as I can.
“I think once they get racing properly established here, the development here will generate more interest and a number of the owners will look at racing options abroad as well.”
