Mick Channon has held a trainer’s licence for less than 20 years, yet the impression he has made in that relatively short period is in its own way truly staggering.

Since saddling his first runners in 1989 Mick has established himself as one of the most successful in his profession and, after purchasing the historic West Ilsley Stables in 1999, has been a regular top six finisher in the trainers’ championship.

He purchased his first horse, Cathy Jane, when he was at the height of his career as a professional footballer and the filly landed the Brown Jack Stakes at Ascot in 1973.

It was the start of something Mick himself had no idea would escalate into one of the most highly-polished and successful training operations in the country.

He began with just ten horses in Lambourn, from where his first Group 1 success occurred from Kingsdown Stables when Piccolo won the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Other notable Group performers to go through his hands at Kingsdown included the brilliant but ill-fated Bint Allayl while his penchant for getting the best out of juvenile fillies carried on to West Ilsley from where Queen’s Logic, Silca’s Sister, Flashy Wings, Silca Chiave and Majestic Roi have each proved high class performers with Pattern successes to their names.

That is not to say Mick hasn’t been able to reap a rich harvest of success with colts. The talented Tobougg, owned by Sheikh Ahmed, paved the way for other memorable performers such as Imperial Dancer and the Jaber Abdullah-owned Zafeen.

In recent years, Youmzain has been the stables flagbearer, performing admirably in the World's premier middle distance events. Twice a winner at the top level, the Sinndar entire has become a reknowned Group 1 performer, twice finishing runner up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as coming second in The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and in Epsom's Coronation Cup. The inspirational Youmzain represents the stamp of horse that Mick and the West Ilsley Team have begun to focus on in recent years. What was once renowned as a base for precocious two-year olds in the sprinting divisions only, is beginning to invest in and produce stock with middle distance pedigrees.

However, that's not to say that West Ilsley is moving away from it's traditional approach. Indeed, Mick continues to unearth promising two-year old types and he regularly sends out well over 100 winners per season as his search for the elusive Classic victory continues.