Which trainer was known as the ‘Sprint King’?
The trainer known as the ‘Sprint King’ was the late David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, who died in June, 2017, aged 61. Formerly a successful Flat jockey, with 421 winners to his name, Nicholls turned his hand to training in 1993. Based at Tall Trees Stables in Sessay, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Nicholls sent out a total of 1,269 winners, but will always be best remembered for his handling of sprinters.
At the highest, Group 1 level, Nicholls won the Nunthorpe Stakes twice, with Ya Malak in 1997 and Bahamian Pirate in 2004, the July Cup with Continent in 2002 and the Haydock Sprint Cup with Regal Parade in 2009. Like someone on a winning run on real money casino games, the man could seemingly do no wrong. He also enjoyed success on the other side of the English Channel, winning the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp with Continent in 2002 and the Prix Maurice de Gheest with Regal Parade in 2010.
Nevertheless, it was in traditional ‘heritage’ handicaps that Nicholls really came into his own. Like a real money online roulette pro, it all fell right for him. He won the Ayr Gold Cup six times, with Bahamian Pirate in 2000, Continent in 2001, Funfair Wane in 2002 and 2004, Regal Parade in 2008 and Redford in 2010, the Epsom Dash five times, with Ya Malak in 1997, Rudi’s Pet in 2002, Atlantic Viking in 2003, Fire Up The Band in 2005 and Indian Trail in 2009 and the Stewards’ Cup three times, with Tayseer in 2000, Gift Horse in 2005 and Evens And Odds in 2010.
Summing up Nicholls’ career, his son, Adrian, said ‘Somebody may end up with a better record with sprinters one day but, to me, there will only ever be one ‘Sprint King’…’