TURF TALK: The only way is up for trainer Tom
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Saturday 17th Nov 2007.
Tom Dascombe, in his second full year as a trainer at his Oneway Stables in Lambourn, has enjoyed 24 winners so far this year, with a strike rate of 20 per cent which is the sixth best in the country to date.
Only the likes of Godolphin, Sir Michael Stoute, Jeremy Noseda, Henry Cecil and Sir Mark Prescott, all top established yards, have better rates than the Lambourn handler.
At his recent open day he paraded some of his lively yearlings that will be representing the yard at the beginning of the next Flat campaign, and with this season's two-year-olds winning nine races from only 43 runs, the youngsters will have a hard act to follow.
Some of the yard's highlights during the season have been the victory of Max One Two Three who won the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York, and Shawhill coming second in a Listed race in France.
The trainer has also chalked up 14 wins for owner Alan Soloman, who has supported the yard with an average of six horses in training, and winning four races with Bold Diktator from the Oneway RSM Racing Club.
The majority of the winners have been ridden by former Roger Charlton apprentice Richard Kingscote, who said he was very happy to be associated with the yard.
Explaining his decision to start training, Dascombe told Turf Talk that he worked for Martin Pipe for four years, got a conditional licence there and added: "I rode for around 10 years notching up 96 winners and had a ride in the Grand National which is the best day ever for a jockey, that was fantastic.
"After a decade in the saddle I became assistant trainer to Ralph Beckett for a couple of years.
"Following on from there I went to Dubai and worked for Mike De Kock, the South African trainer, working for him in Dubai, South Africa and England and we ran horses in Hong Kong, Singapore and all over the world.
"I then came home, sold my house, and set up training. We have had a good bit of luck with 12 winners the first year from 69 runners and 24 so far and hopefully we can add to that total before the new year."
With his sights set firmly on Flat racing, the trainer said he had just one jumper and will be aiming his 12 older horses at the all-weather circuits during the winter.
"I expect they will all have at least one run, so we have got a fair team for the all-weather.
"We also have a barn of yearlings that will get broken in to get along with next year."
Among the all-weather performers to keep an eye on are Whats For Tea, who ran third at the beginning of this week, and Doctor Robert, formerly trained by Roger Charlton, who has been placed second twice over seven and eight furlongs.
Others include Parisian Gift, a sure fire winner according to the trainer. Secret Finish, Rio Rocket, Sawwaah, Savile's Delight and Topiary Ted make up the all-weather team.
Racing fans in the area could do worse than keep an eye on the Dascombe all-weather runners. The down to earth trainer knows how to train winners and could have a big future.
