Rae's Training Career

Rae first took out a licence in 1988 from the 18 box Chestnut Tree Stables, Exeter Road and trained his first winner in Run Free on 10 March 1989 at Market Rasen, fittingly ridden by younger brother Richard.

Some of the highlights of Rae's training career are:

Serious Attitude

Rae trained Serious Attitude in 2008 – 2010 for owner Derek Willis. She is a fantastic horse who has outperformed all expectations being unbeaten at two, graduating from a maiden at Windsor to winning the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. She was a leading fancy for the 2009 1,000 Guineas but failed to stay the mile. She proved that she had trained on, however, by winning the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York over six furlongs in July 2009 and remains in training in 2010. Proof that it is possible to buy a Group 1 winner for just 7,500 guineas.

My Emma

Rae’s first Group One winner was star middle distance filly My Emma for owners Matthews Breeding and Racing.  He took over training My Emma from the summer of her two year old career. She was lightly raced, running only once at two before being placed fifth in the Lancashire Oaks (Group 3) first time out as a three year old at 50-1. She went on to win the Prix Vermeille in 1996 to Rae his first Group 1 winner.

My Emma went on to crown that achievement in the Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) the following year, beating the Oaks winner, Reams of Verse and Whitewater Affair, another exceptional filly. She ran in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe that year but was injured before the race and did not run to form.  My Emma’s first foal to race was the high class stayer Moments of Joy, also trained by Rae at the yard. She was eventually sold for 1.3 million guineas to Coolmore Stud.

Aldbourne

Rae's best horse in year one was the filly Aldbourne, owned initially by John Smith and then top Indian owner Vijay Mallya. Aldbourne won two Listed races and was placed in both the English and Irish Guineas. Aldbourne went on to win a $250,000 race on the Breeders Cup card at Atlantic City in the U.S while in Rae's care.

Millyant

The second really good filly Rae trained was Millyant. A shrewd purchase for only 18,000 gn, she was a half sister to sprint sire Prince Sabo by Primo Dominie. Millyant was Rae's first Group winner, landing the Molecomb (Group 3) at Goodwood for owner Chris Mills.

Millyant was very fast indeed. She covered herself in glory on the racecourse winning numerous Group races - often in France - the Prix Hampton (Listed); the Prix de Petit Couvert (Group 3) twice; and the Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 2). Rae rode Millyant himself at home and she was ridden on the track by South African Michael Roberts and American Cash Asmussen. She is now at Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud and some of her progeny are in training with Rae, one being the Listed placed Millybaa.

Rosa Grace

Rosa Grace was the winner of the Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes (Listed) at Newbury in 2008 and later second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga Springs, USA while trained by Rae.  Rosa Grace also ran in the Irish Oaks.  She was bought by Rae for Eamonn Duggan for 30,000 guineas in 2006 and sold at a substantial profit to race in USA in 2008.

Bahia Breeze

Dual Listed winner and perpetual bridesmaid in top company, she was the most fantastically tough and consistent horse, seemingly running in to good horses (many Group 1 winners) wherever she went, recording multiple placed efforts in Group 3 and 2 races and achieving an official rating of 111.  She was bought by Rae for just 5,000 guineas and was eventually sold for 60,000 in 2008.

Moments of Joy

Moments of Joy warrents special mention as she won her first two races, the second being the Listed Gladness Stakes at Goodwood and finished a creditable fifth in the 2003 St Leger, Englands oldest Classic. She was eventually sold for a sale topping 1.6 million guineas.

Miss Anabaa

Rae trained star sprinter Miss Anabaa for owner Chris Mills as he had her dam, Midnight Shift. Miss Anabaa came into her own as a four year old when she won the Listed Naas Sprint Stakes, and followed up in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes at Cork.

Marakabei

Marakabei was a cheap buy for owner Jane Poulter. She was not easy to train because of her conformation and she spent a lot of her time in the swimming pool. Rae was careful only to run her when the ground was soft, and that patience was rewarded when she won a mile and a half Listed race at the age of five and the rewarding price at 66-1.

In Rae's yard the emphasis is usually on fillies since Rae thinks they represent better value and are cheaper to buy. By way of illustration, this policy has yielded seven Group wins, six Listed wins, two Classic places and numerous Group and Listed places; all of which add tremendous value to the fillies concerned (and their progeny) when they go to stud.

That said, the exploits of such hardy perennials as Montecristo (winner of 18 races over a mile and a half), Gallery Artist (six races), Mousehole (winner of 13 races over 5 and 6 furlongs) and Sir Desmond (eight races) are hard to match, and give huge satisfaction to the owners and everyone in the yard.

In an expanding yard, Rae can train whatever type of horse his owners send him. Rae's record shows that he takes pride in getting the best out of every horse, whatever their talents.