Horse racing tips: Back this 12-1 shot at Newmarket plus airline pilot turned trainer on his brave move to England

AIRLINE pilot turned trainer Dylan Cunha is hoping he can find some jets of a different kind.

The brave South African has moved to Newmarket after handing in his aeroplane licence in exchange for a trainers one.

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The 42-year-old is no stranger to the game, having trained a Grade 1 winner back home.

But nonetheless he’s taking a huge leap of faith in moving to Britain at a time when most trainers are struggling to make ends meet.

Cunha roared on his first winner at Chelmsford last month and is desperate to keep momentum going through the winter.

He said: “Covid put an end to my career as a pilot.

“I worked for a South African airline but they went bust as it kicked in. After ten years it was over in a flash, just by email.

“My dad knew I’d always wanted to train in England and I thought, ‘why not?

“I have a couple of family members here so I moved the wife and kids over.”

Cunha rents boxes from William Jarvis at the famous Phantom House. He calls William Haggas, Marco Botti and Ed Dunlop his neighbours now.

It’s a far cry from his previous days training on the hot and sweaty Summerveld in South Africa.

The former pilot is also a super fit ultra marathon runner and reckons his all round life experiences make him a better trainer.

He said: “In 2010 I stopped training in South Africa and knew I was still young enough to have another career.

“I run plenty too, or used to anyway, I don’t have time now! I like to think that keeps me sharp.

“I think I’ve had a lot of different life experiences which holds me in good stead. Maybe some other trainers could do with it.”

Cunha started with just three horses but is steadily building up his string and has ten in training now.

He celebrated his first winner at Chelmsford with Mighty Mind last month and is beginning to attract some new owners.

Two-year-old Expressionless could run at the Cambridgeshire Meeting this weekend after an encouraging debut at Newmarket.

It’s a challenging time for those away from the mega yards, but Cunha is determined to give it a real go.

He said: “I won’t lie, it’s been a lot harder than I thought it would. Everything is so bloody expensive!

“We’ve bought a couple at the sales and will be breaking them in ourselves.

“I do a lot of the work myself, I know how to muck out that’s for sure.

“Hopefully we can attract a few more owners. I never want to be a big yard, but I have room for more.

“I love the racing here, the racecourses are special. I’m going to give it my best.

“We’re starting to build some momentum and things are looking up.”

WORD is that Stradivarius might be done for the season.

His owner Bjorn Nielsen now needs to decide whether to bring him back for another campaign as a nine-year-old next spring.

The star stayer missed York’s Ebor Festival and is running out of time to get back on the track after he skipped the Doncaster Cup, too.

The Prix du Cadran in France and Ascot’s Long Distance Cup on Champions Day are his only feasible options but all hasn’t been rosey at home.

His fairytale swansong suddenly looks a lot harder to write.

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TOM CLOVER’S unbeaten Crystallium has caught the eye of some powerful owners at home and abroad.

The two-year-old filly has looked way above average in her two wins so far and Clover is desperate to hold on to her.

She was backed off the boards before she won at Chelmsford and she followed that up with a tidy success at Newbury last week.

Clover reckons she is a Guineas filly for next season and she’s currently a 33-1 for the Classic.

But the Newmarket handler has to pray his owners Elaine Nolan and Paul Hancock can resist the cash flashing before their eyes.

GOOD WORK
THE money has come thick and fast for John Gosden’s COMMISSIONING in the lead up to Friday’s Rockfel at Newmarket. She went like a rocket in a piece of work over the weekend and is now as short as 2-1 for the Group 2 after just one run. Rab Havlin is booked with Frankie Dettori banned and on the sidelines.

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