‘I’ll be in charge’: Foster ready to take the reins at Elliott’s stable
THE woman who has taken over the running of controversial trainer
Gordon Elliott’s stable has insisted that from tomorrow, she will be in charge.
Denise Foster spoke yesterday of a ‘great responsibility’ as she prepares to take over at Elliott’s yard following the trainer’s suspension for six months, after a photo emerged of him sitting astride a dead horse.
Foster, who has had 10 winners on the flat and over jumps combined over the past five seasons, is also based in Co. Meath. She will move from Enfield – around 8km away – to Cullentra for the duration of the suspension.
She said: ‘I am honoured to take over from Gordon and realise he is a hard act to follow. I am delighted by the contacts I have had with the owners and staff to date. This is a great responsibility but I could not ask for a better set up. I will take charge from Monday.’
An initial statement confirming the plans was posted on Elliott’s official Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. However, it was deleted and reposted. It read: ‘Gordon Elliott Racing is pleased to confirm that Denise Foster will take over the licence at Cullentra Stables during the period of Gordon Elliott’s suspension.
‘Denise is vastly experienced and her appointment is great news for staff and owners.’
Another statement added that it was hoped ‘the current level of employment provided at our stables will continue’.
Foster has trained racehorses since 1998 when she took over from her husband, David, following his death in a riding accident.
Tipperary yard, he lost his license and a promising training career shuddered to a halt.
Fenton saddled Dunguib to a 10-length win in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2009 and also sent out Last Instalment to plunder three Grade One chases between 2013 and 2014.
The ban saw him lose owners, such as Gigginstown House, and forced him to start again from scratch.
The pace of his return has been slow since his license was returned by the IHRB and he sent out the first winner of his second coming on New Year’s Day in 2019.
After finishing the 2019-20 season with two winners, he’s on the six mark this term and his yard has tip-toed up to 25 or so horses.
Elliott has confirmed that Denise Foster will take over the license for his Cullentra Stables while he serves a six-month suspension.
Like Elliott based in County Meath, Foster enjoyed Listed success with Lily’s Rainbow in the 2016 Heritage Stakes at Navan and counts JP McManus as one of her owners.
Having already imposed an interim suspension on Elliotttrained runners in Britain until the conclusion of the IHRB’s investigation, the British Horseracing Authority immediately confirmed it would reciprocate the ban.
However, the BHA added that Elliott’s horses would be allowed to run at Cheltenham and Aintree if ‘transferred directly to other licenced trainers prior to March 9’.
On Tuesday, leading owners Cheveley Park Stud moved their horses from Elliott to Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead.
Among those was the unbeaten Envoi Allen, who has joined De Bromhead.
Meanwhile, leading Triumph Hurdle contender French Aseel, trained by Willie Mullins, has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival after the four-year-old suffered a setback, the trainer revealed.