Cohen will train in Australia...

LIONEL COHEN, who made an indelible mark on the SA racing industry as a breeder and owner, has set his sights on a training career in Australia.

Speaking at last Saturday’s Cape Breeders Club meeting, the man who bred world champions like Crimson Palace and Sun Classique said that while he won’t be breaking ties with South African racing, he is itching to try his hand at training. He has taken up stables at Rosehill in Sydney, neighbouring another former South African, David Payne.

Cohen told Racingweb: “It is my ambition to train and it is a dream I believe is easier to realise in Australia, where getting a licence is an administrative formality. If I stay in South Africa it will take me years to qualify as a trainer. I spent three months working with David Payne last year and a few more weeks just recently when I went to the Magic Millions Sale.”

Cohen bought a yearling by Encosta De Lago at Magic Millions and said that he would start with a small string of five horses.

At home, he now owns sales company Equimark outright and will retain ownership with a view of improving this already popular sale. To this end he has made several improvements to the sales grounds at Durbanville.

While his former Odessa Stud has been sold, Cohen has retained 25 mares to keep his breeding interests alive.

He reports that star mare Sun Classique, injured after her win in the 2008 Dubai Duty Free, is on her way to Australia, in foal to leading UK stallion Oasis Dream.

Everytime I have been to Mike Bass' stable, Lionel has been there. He obviously is an interested party in training. He is a very good guy and I wish him the best of luck.

I hear he is back in SA working as Plattners farm Manager?

As a trainer or just managering the farm

savasp wrote: As a trainer or just managering the farm

On the Farm, not training

All the best

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