newsletter
sign-up

To receive news and updates from our stable please provide your details below.

Name

Email Address


OUR
HORSES


Nigel Blackiston - Racehorse Trainer

Nigel Anthony Blackiston started his career in thoroughbred racing in Newmarket, England. Born in Hertfordshire, England on 14th October 1963. Nigel moved with his family to Newmarket when he was 13. Soon after arriving in Newmarket, Nigel decided that he wanted to be part of the thoroughbred industry that made Newmarket so famous and landed himself a part-time job at prominent trainer, Captain Bruce Hobbs while at school.

When he was 16, Nigel decided that his time at school had come to an end, as he was to take up an apprenticeship with trainer Captain Bruce Hobbs at Newmarket. Unfortunately height and weight was to be the end of his career as a jockey, but the determination to be involved in racing never wavered. His first foray in to the training aspect of racing was as traveling head lad for trainer Anthony Hide at Newmarket.

Nigel was determined to spread his wings and took flight to be involved in the setting up of racing in Dubai. He took the position as Assistant Trainer to William Mather for HRH Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruling family of Dubai.

After a fascinating 4 years studying the training methods of William Mather, Nigel focused his interests on Australian racing. Leading trainer Bart Cummings acknowledged Nigel's English racing background as an asset and sponsored him to seek employment within his business. For the following few years Nigel held the position of foreman for Bart Cummings in both his Melbourne and Sydney stables. He gained valuable experience working with such champions as Let Elope, Kingston Rule and Shaftesbury Avenue.

While working at Bart Cummings stable, Nigel was presented with his first opportunity to hold his own license as private trainer for Emirates Park. Nigel would be reacquainted with His Excellency Nasser Lootah, founder of Emirates Park Stud in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. They had previously met in Dubai. Nigel quickly became one of the leading trainers in the North and North Western Districts of NSW. Nigel was establishing himself against future group one winning trainers in Tim Martin and Paul Perry.

In 1996 Bart Cummings approached Nigel to return to Melbourne to take the role of Foreman, and work directly under Bart. This gave Nigel the opportunity to work closely with more champions of the turf being Saintly, Rogan Josh, Dane Ripper, Catalan Opening and Alfa.

After working back with Bart for 3 years, the time had come for Nigel to pursue his dream of running his own business. Nigel obtained his trainer's license from the VRC in the 1999-2000 season and established a private training complex at Cranbourne. After a fruitful 5 years 2003 Nigel re-located to a complex on the course at Headquarters, making it easier for clients to come out and see their horses.

In the time he has held his VRC trainer's license, Nigel has trained over 100 winners and found the winner's circle for his owners twice in the Group 2 MVRC Waterford Crystal Mile (Weasel Will) and once in the Group 3 VRC Tooheys Stakes (Shelbourne Lass), the Group 3 SAJC Lakewood Stakes (Shelbourne Lass), the Listed Talindert Stakes (Tookachance), the Listed VRC Teac Stakes (Weasel Will), the Listed SAJC Walter Brown Stakes (Firenza) and the Listed VRC Anzac Day Stakes (Cianara). Nigel has also provided his owners with the thrill of placings in two of Australia's premier mile races with a second with Weasel Will in the Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes (1st Tessa Rossa) and a third placing with Weasel Will in the Group 1 AJC Doncaster Handicap (1st Assertive Lad, 2nd Shogun Lodge).

Recently Nigel has risen to prominence with the performances of Littorio, 2008 Turnbull Stakes winner. Littorio is the third horse in the last 30 years, to have been placed, in the VRC Derby, Rosehill Guineas, AJC Derby, Craiglee Stakes and Underwood Stakes. The other two being Dulcify and Sky Heights.

NEWS

LITTORIO OUT TO SILENCE HIS KNOCKERS

Nigel Blackiston has lost count of the number of people who have told him Littorio is not a genuine stayer.

April 21, 2010Read More >

Williams - speed the key for Littorio

Top jockey Craig Williams says a lack of pace poses the biggest threat to Littorio as the jockey strives for back-to-back Sydney Cup wins at Saturday’s Randwick meeting.

April 21, 2010Read More >

Littorio primed for a Sydney Cup tilt against some up-and-comers

TRAINER Nigel Blackiston believes he is bringing Littorio at the peak of his powers to take on ''developing horses'' in Saturday's Sydney Cup at Randwick.

April 20, 2010Read More >

Littorio Has Strong Staying Blood

Night Raid, the sire of the legendary Melbourne Cup winners Nightmarch and Phar Lap, might be the influence behind Bellotto gelding Littorio winning the Sydney Cup over 3200m at Randwick on April 24.

April 20, 2010Read More >

Solarco

Last Sunday, Solarco headed to Cranbourne, and duly saluted by 4.5 lengths. The most important aspect of this brilliant win by this filly, is that she is the first winner Blackiston Racing has had in conjunction with Napier Racing.

April 15, 2010Read More >

View more news >