Lukas Assistant Sebastian ‘Bas’ Nicholl Leaves Training Career

[Wandering Eyes]

Former D. Wayne Lukas assistant Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl, who assumed care of the late trainer's stable in late June in a succession plan put in place by Lukas Enterprises, Inc., will no longer serve as a head trainer. The story was first reported by Daily Racing Form.

Nicholl told DRF the last horses formerly trained by Lukas left the barn Tuesday and are being sent to other trainers. Nicholl, a former captain in the British Army and Lukas's assistant for more than 20 years, is in the midst of helping the Lukas family with the late Hall of Fame trainer's estate. Nicholl told DRF he has received assistant trainer offers from other operations and plans to continue in that role in another barn, but will pursue it at a later date.

“It was a personal decision, not something I really want to discuss,” Nicholl told DRF. “It was a very amicable decision, everyone's all good friends. We're going to go ahead and move on.”

The most prominent of the former Lukas horses to be transferred to other barns is this spring's Virginia Derby winner American Promise (Justify), who finished off the board in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness Stakes. The BC Stables runner is being freshened on a farm, with BC Stables sending 15 horses to Steve Asmussen.

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