Young Trainer In Clover With Four Juvenile Winners in a Week

[Wandering Eyes]

It has been quite the purple patch for trainer Charlie Clover, who saddled his first winner on Thursday at Chelmsford, then another, and another, and another. 

In his first season based in Newmarket, where his brother Tom also trains, the 29-year-old has five juveniles among the 13 horses in his stable, and now four of those youngsters are winners.

“It's extraordinary,” he says. “It's been a bit of a dream week really.”

The dream started when Eclipser (Arizona), an €11,000 yearling purchase by the trainer, struck on her second start under Hector Crouch. Two days later it was the turn of Flowerhead, from the first crop of Starman and owned by Amo Racing, who also won at the  second time of asking, having finished runner-up on her debut on May 12. This pair was followed on Sunday and Monday by the victories at Goodwood and Pontefract of A'Ali G (A'Ali) and No Spritz No Party (Sergei Prokofiev).

Clover says, “To have got them through the whole yearling breaking-in and breeze-up process and to be out and winning races before Royal Ascot is quite remarkable really. They were all affordable horses as well, nothing with a big price tag.

“A'Ali G was bought by a client of Jack Morland, who is a very good friend of mine, and the plan was to breeze him but he couldn't get in a sale because he was too small, so he ended up with me.”

A former event rider, Clover has worked in racing for eight years. He served a stint in America with White Birch Firm and Christophe Clement, as well as assisting fellow Newmarket trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy, and is now based at Albert House Stables at the foot of Warren Hill.

“I ride out anything from two to five lots a day,” he says. “There are only 13 horses here so we are all pitching in and mucking out. I drive the horse box. It's very hands-on at the moment.”

He can also rely on help and advice from his brother Tom and sister-in-law Jackie, the daughter of the late Classic-winning trainer Michael Jarvis. 

“We talk a huge amount,” he says. “I was best man at Tom's wedding so he's a very close mate, as he is a brother. He would never offer advice unless I ask him, but if ever I ask him or Jackie, there are many aspects of this game to be learned and he has been there eight years longer than me, so it's great to have someone I can call up and double-check things with.”

He adds, “Even the greats of the game are still learning every day. It would be very naive to think that there aren't questions that I need to ask.”

Some of that early experience gained across the pond came in the stable of Christophe Clement, to whom many tributes have been paid since his death two weeks ago.

Clover says, “It was touching after his passing to see the feedback from so many people who regarded Christophe as a father figure. You'd go there and he'd take you under his wing and treat you like family. When you're in a strange country in a new environment that was so comforting. He was a very talented trainer but also a very kind man who had a great work-life balance.”

On his return from America, Clover was entrusted to look after Clement's most recent Royal Ascot runner, Pizza Bianca, ahead of her run in the Coronation Stakes, and now he finds himself in the position of pondering whether he may be represented by a runner of his own at this year's meeting.

Regarding the potential participation of one or more of his recent winners, he says, “It's not a yes or no. Two of them are straight nos and two of them are maybes. There are still conversations to be had and to look at all of our options. 

“We'll make the decision based on what's the best thing to do for the horses and the owners and really what's the best chance of our being represented in a positive manner rather than just going for a day out. I might be there with one, might be there with two, but might be there with none. It's all about trying to work out the best plans for the horses and to give them the best chance of winning more races.”

 

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