OUR TRAINERS

Doug Harrison:

Doug was born on the 22nd of June 1955 and comes from a family steeped in racing history. His father Tom was an outstanding trainer for many years, brother Kevin a highly successful jockey and trainer, brother Tony a Group 1 winning trainer, while Alan Williams, another leading jockey and trainer, is Doug’s brother-in-law. Finally, he is the uncle of leading Victorian jockey Craig Williams.

In 1980, after his father was badly injured when he was slammed into a post by a horse at Pakenham, Doug was forced to take out a trainer’s licence. His first winner came shortly after Idol Haze saluted at Bairnsdale.

Over the following years Doug expanded the family operation culminating in the purchase and development of the training centre, Havelock Park, Pearcedale. Havelock Park is named after his father’s most famous horse, Havelock. Havelock Park represents one the finest equine training facilities in Victoria, with everything from spelling arrangements to day paddocks for each horse. Other key ingredients to the success of Havelock Park include the 1700 meter all weather track, the 1500 meter grass track, and barrier stalls for the all important horse education.

During his career Doug has trained some outstanding racehorses and while his stars are too many to mention, he does have favourites. These include Native Neptune, winner of the Canberra Cup (he still holds the track record), Beau Trist, winner of the Geelong Cup and close up finisher to Kensei in the 1987 Melbourne Cup. However closest to Doug’s heart is the recently retired to stud, Natural Blitz, winner of the Feehan Stakes, Hill Stakes and PJ O’Shea, all Group 2 events. His record also boasts a second to Northerly in the Australian Cup and total prize money in excess of 1.2 million dollars.

Doug continues his search for his next Natural Blitz by personally inspecting over 1000 horses a year at all the major yearling sales, both in Australia and New Zealand. Currently his headline acts for the stable include King Johannes, O’Marie, Spectrum Blitz, Imposing Way and Electronic Million.

Nigel Blackiston:

Nigel started his career in thoroughbred racing in Newmarket, England. Born in Hertfordshire, England on the 14th of October 1963, Nigel moved with his family to Newmarket when he was 13. Soon after arriving in Newmarket Nigel decided he wanted to be a part of the thoroughbred industry that made Newmarket so famous and obtained a part-time job at a stable while he was at school.

When he was 16, Nigel decided to leave school to take up an apprenticeship with trainer Captain Bruce Hobbs. Unfortunately height and weight beat him and he retired from race riding to assume the position of Travelling Head Lad for trainer Anthony Hide at Newmarket.

Nigel later journeyed to the part of the world where the 3 foundation sires had their origin and commenced a position in Dubai, as Assistant Trainer to William Mather for HRH Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruling family of Dubai.

After a fascinating 4 years studying the training methods of William Mather, Nigel focused his interests on Australian racing. Leading trainer Bart Cummings acknowledged Nigel’s English racing background as an asset and sponsored him to seek employment within his business. For the following few years Nigel held the position of foreman for Bart Cummings in both his Melbourne and Sydney stables. He gained valuable experience working with such champions as Let’s Elope, Kingston Rule and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Subsequently, Nigel would be reacquainted with His Excellency Nasser Lootah, founder of Emirates Park Stud in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. They had previously met in Dubai. His Excellency presented Nigel with his first opportunity to hold a trainer’s license, operating from Emirates Park, NSW. Nigel quickly became one of the leading trainers in the North and North Western Districts of NSW.

In 1996 Bart Cummings approached Nigel to return to Melbourne to take the role of Foreman, while “the Cups King” ran his Sydney stables. This gave Nigel the opportunity to work closely with more champions of the turf – on this occasion it was Saintly, Dane Ripper, Catalan Opening and Alfa.

Nigel obtained his trainer’s license from Racing Victoria in the 1999-2000 season and established a private training complex at Cranbourne. In December 2003 Nigel re-located to a 20 box complex on the course at Flemington.

In the time he has held his trainer’s license, Nigel has trained over 100 winners and found the winner’s circle for his owners twice in the Group 2 MVRC Waterford Crystal Mile (Weasel Will) and once in the Group 3 VRC Tooheys Stakes (Shelbourne Lass), the Group 3 SAJC Lakewood Stakes (Shelbourne Lass), the Listed Talindert Stakes (Tookachance), the Listed VRC Teac Stakes (Weasel Will), the Listed SAJC Walter Brown Stakes (Firenza) and the Listed VRC Anzac Day Stakes (Cianara). Nigel has also provided his owners with the thrill of placings in two of Australia’s premier mile races, a second with Weasel Will in the Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes (1st Tessa Rossa) and a third placing with Weasel Will in the Group 1 AJC Doncaster Handicap (1st Assertive Lad, 2nd Shogun Lodge).

Most recently, Nigel trains the Derby star of 2007-2008  and Group 1 Winner, Littorio (Turnbull Stakes 2008) .