Tom Dascombe started his career in racing as a jump jockey, at the all-conquering Martin Pipe yard, at the age of 16. It was here, that Tom felt he picked up knowledge that he would not have picked up at any other yard in the country. In the 5 years that he was based at Pond House Stables, he feels that he learnt more than he would have in 15 years at any ordinary yard!

After retiring from race riding on his own terms, with no broken bones and 96 winners under his belt, Tom felt it was right to gain some more vital experience. He spent 3 years as assistant to Ralph Beckett before stints in America and finally spending 2 years with top international flat trainer, Mike De Kock. Tom credits Mike for teaching him how to spot lameness in a horse before it is too big of an issue to correct.

In 2005 Tom felt that he had picked up enough knowledge from multiple trainers around the world to start up on his own, as a trainer. Success was not long in coming and by 31 October 2009 he had sent out 130 flat winners in Great Britain from 818 runners, a strike rate of 16%. The pinnacle being when he trained Classic Blade and Firth of Fifth to win the Group 2 July Stakes and Group 2 Superlative Stakes respectively, on consecutive days in 2008 at Newmarket.

This rapid rise to the top did not go unnoticed and it was not long until he was headhunted, by 1^st November 2009 Tom started work at Michael Owen and Andrew Black’s, Manor House Stables.

Tom’s first major successes at Manor House Stables came in 2011 at Royal Ascot when Rhythm of Light and Brown Panther (who later finished second in the 2011 St. Leger Stakes) won the Sandringham Listed Handicap and the King George V Handicap Stakes on consecutive days. This was quickly followed by Ceiling Kitty winning the Group 2, Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012.  Tom officially announced himself on the big stage when both he and Manor House Stables claimed their first Group 1 successes, when Brown Panther won the 2014 Irish St Leger at The Curragh.

Currently, Deva Racing have 4 horses in training with Tom – Capo Bay and Graceful Moment are both 3-year-olds who will be ready to run once the flat season proper begins. While Costa Adeje and our unnamed Galileo Gold colt are both 2-year-olds which huge potential.

We look forward to supporting Tom for many years to come and cannot wait to be celebrating winners with him and Colin on course this summer!