Mark has maintained a hugely impressive level of consistency throughout his 28 years as a racehorse trainer.
On the first day of the turf season 2008, Mark won the Lincoln Handicap for the second time. Smokey Oakey was victorious and was closely followed by stable mate and 2004 winner, Babodana, in third place.
In 2007, over a third of his 400 runners were placed. He trained thirty-nine winners, headed by Topatoo in the Group 3 Middleton Stakes, and there were many near misses. Among the forty-four seconds was Babodana in the Listed Midsummer Stakes and he also was third in Listed company at Goodwood. Others to make the frame in Listed races included Mikao and Alan Devonshire.
With a total of over 880 winners, Mark's success throughout his career include the Classic St Leger (Group 1), Great Voltigeur (Group 2), Duke of York Stakes (Group 2), Yorkshire Cup (Group 2), Lingfield Derby Trial (Group 3) twice, Gladness Stakes (Group 3), Lily Langtry Stakes (Group 3), Pokal 60 Deutscher Stutenpreis (Group 3), Middleton Stakes (Group 3), Zetland Stakes (Listed), Champion 2 year old Trophy (Listed), Strensall Stakes (Listed), Tattersalls Stakes (Listed), Lincoln Handicap twice, Magnet Cup and the Cesarewitch.
Over the jumps, his race record continues with wins such as the Bula Hurdle (Grade 2) twice, Yorkshire Hurdle (Grade 2), Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 2), Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2) and Champion Hurdle Punchestown (Listed).
And there are the unsung successes of horses such as Overpower (placed over fifty times including eleven wins) and Mark's astute yearling purchases such as Cool Edge (bought at a cost of approximately £750 and went on to win over £100,000 in prize money), Babodana (bought for approximately £15,000 and has gone on to win over £200,000 in prize money) and Steenberg (bought for 12,500gns and has gone on to win over £220,000 in prize money).
Mark runs two racing yards at Flint Cottage Stables and Exeter Ride in Newmarket. And, with his wife Angie, he runs Dullingham Park Stud a few miles outside of the town and Garrowby Stud in Yorkshire. He has also been Chairman of the Newmarket Trainers' Federation for eight years and Leading Trainer at York in 2005.
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