Pitt to Resume Training at Norton Grange Stables
27/08/07

Dual Group One-winning trainer Tim Pitt is aiming to restart his training career at Norton Grange Stables near Malton in North Yorkshire.

Les Arcs and John Egan (far side) just getting the better of Ifraaj (Frankie Dettori) in a terrific finish to the Group 1 Darley July Cup (Newmarket 14-07-06)
© racing-images.co.uk

Pitt, 33, enjoyed a sensational first season as a trainer last year when he progressed Les Arcs from being a 90-rated handicapper to win both the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Other notable successes in 2006 included the victory of Admiral in the Chester Cup and a 33 per cent strike rate with his two-year-olds, which included Not For Me, a Listed winner at York’s Ebor Meeting.

Pitt, who had previously assisted the likes of Peter Chapple-Hyam, John Gosden and Gerard Butler, will initially rent 15 boxes from Tim FitzGerald at his Norton Grange Stables.

The FitzGerald family has sent out many winners from the yard, where Jimmy FitzGerald trained such great performers as Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Forgive ‘N Forget, Ebor and Princess Of Wales’s Stakes winner Sapience and Cesarewitch victor Trainglot.

Pitt will be attending the major sales this autumn and those who have pledged to support him in the future are the Sangster Family along with other well-established owners.

Pitt said today: “I had looked at various yards across the country but knew straightaway that Norton Grange was where I wanted to be when I saw the place. It has great facilities, excellent gallops and Tim FitzGerald has been hugely helpful to me.

“I'm very much looking forward to resuming my training career and - although I will be starting with a relatively small string - I have hopefully proved I can do it once and am more than determined to succeed a second time.”