Hugo Palmer
Hugo was granted a licence to train in 2011 starting out with just 11 inexpensive horses that he syndicated.
The first horse to arrive in the yard was MAKING EYES and she became the stable’s first stakes winner in 2012 winning a Listed race in France.
There followed many Group and Listed wins but it was COVERT LOVE’s victory in the Group 1 Irish Oaks of 2015 that really broke new ground for the yard. Having added the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera to her tally of 5 wins that year, COVERT LOVE was one of the highest rated fillies in the world. The exploits of her supporting cast that included GALILEO GOLD, GIFTED MASTER, HAWKSMOOR, HOME OF THE BRAVE and NEW PROVIDENCE saw the yard break the £1 million barrier for the first time.
The following year, GALILEO GOLD won the 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, and HAWKSMOOR became a Classic winner as well when she won the German 1,000 Guineas. Group wins for AFANDEM, BEST OF DAYS, GIFTED MASTER and HOME OF THE BRAVE contributed to a top-ten finish in the Trainers Championship and UK prize money of over £2 million.
There have followed many stakes winners including UNFORGETABLE FILLY (winner of the German 1,000 Guineas), MOOTASDIR (Group 3 Diamond Stakes), POWERFUL BREEZE (Group 2 May Hill) before EBRO RIVER won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in 2021. EBRO RIVER was the first Group 1 winner from his sire GALILEO GOLD’s first crop and was a very proud moment.
In March 2022, almost 11 years to the day since beginning training, Hugo took up the reins at Manor House Stables. He brought with him a significant number of horses and has been instrumental to the stable’s continued growth and expansion.
BRAD THE BRIEF’s Group 2 Greenlands Stakes win at The Curragh in May 2022 was Hugo’s 48th stakes winner and his first from his new base. With an admirable strike rate Hugo has quickly established himself as one of the country’s leading young trainers.
