Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Jumps racing has been bred into Dominic Sutton, who started riding work for National Hunt trainers Kim Bailey and Warren Greatrex when he was still in school. He followed in the footsteps of his father Nick Sutton, also a jumps jockey, and took out his amateur riding licence as a teenager.
“One time, I rode a winner on the same horse that my dad had ridden a winner on,” Sutton told TTR AusNZ. “We actually rode in a point-to-point race together when I first started out, so I have that quite unique experience. He was on the faster horse that day.”
“We (Dom and his dad) actually rode in a point-to-point race together when I first started out, so I have that quite unique experience. He was on the faster horse that day.” - Dominic Sutton
It would not take long for the allure of flat racing to reel Sutton in, and he headed to work for esteemed flat trainer Andrew Balding after he finished high school. When he turned 19, Sutton took his first international leap of faith and followed in the footsteps of many European thoroughbred enthusiasts, heading to Australia.
“I slowly progressed into wanting to be involved full time in the industry,” he said. “When I decided race riding wasn't for me, I thought it would be a good idea to come across to Australia and get a feel for the industry over here.”
Dominic Sutton when race riding
Studying the craft
Sutton headed straight for the stables of Chris Waller, where he spent a year and a half acclimatising to Australian racing. He next secured a role with Malua Racing, Troy and Leon Corstens’ Flemington-based racing operation, where he would really establish a foothold in the industry.
“I was there for seven years working my way up to foreman into assistant trainer,” said Sutton. “I was learning Australian racing on a whole, I was able to work closely with both of them and see the way that they operate, from the basics of business all the way through to the training of the horses.”
Troy and Leon Corstens
In his time with Team Corstens, Sutton was entrusted with the care of Bennett Racing-owned The Astrologist (Zoustar). Transferred to Malua Racing’s care in 2020, the gelding proved a tenacious stakes performer, picking up wins in the G3 Aurie’s Star H., the G3 Gold Rush, and Listed Victorian Sprint Final. His performances booked him a ticket to Meydan in March last year, where he finished second in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint to Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
“I was fortunate enough to go to Dubai and Royal Ascot with The Astrologist,” Sutton said. The Astrologist picked up a third placing in the G3 John Of Gaunt S., before a respectable fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. behind fellow traveller Artorius (Flying Artie).
“I'd been to Ascot a fair few years prior, but hadn't been back since I moved over here. So that was definitely something ticked off the bucket list, taking a horse back home and being able to compete on the world stage. The plan (next time) is to go back with my own (horse).”
Dominic Sutton and The Astrologist at Royal Ascot
Striking out alone
At the beginning of the year, Sutton finally felt the call to go out on his own, and took his next great lap.
“There were thoughts of partnership, as a lot of young trainers are doing now, going into partnership with senior trainers,” he said. “But I’ve always thought that, when I was going to train, I would like to do things the way I wanted to do them from the get-go and build something that was mine. I was fortunate to have enough backing from owners and clients to make that leap.”
“I’ve always thought that, when I was going to train, I would like to do things the way I wanted to do them from the get-go and build something that was mine.” - Dominic Sutton
One such backer was an old family friend; McKeever Bloodstock, Johnny and Susie McKeever’s international agency based in Newmarket. Sutton had grown up with the McKeevers as part of his racing family.
“(Johnny McKeever) is a really good family friend,” he said. “My father and Johnny have known each other a long time, so it works really well having that close relationship and trust between us. It also works well because he spends six months of the year in the United Kingdom and six months in Australia.”
This was particularly beneficial when Sutton struck out on his own and needed to fill stables. McKeever Bloodstock assisted in procuring Halla Dubai (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}), teaming up with Sutton and Huworth Bloodstock for 125,000gns ($249,000) at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, as well as purchasing debut winners Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) and Khadime (Star Turn) with the young trainer for NZ$160,000 and NZ$200,000 respectively from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, both offered by Kilgravin Lodge.
Johnny McKeever | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
McKeever also signed the docket earlier in 2023 to purchase Detroit City (Toronado {Ire}), another winner on debut, for $200,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Twin Hills Stud.
“You can't expect to just buy yearlings and sit on your hands for two or three years until they're ready,” was Sutton’s sound logic. “So we tried to have some tried horses ready to go. We had brought over a couple of imports over the previous year and we targeted the New Zealand Ready to Run as the main sale we wanted to purchase from, because the turn around between buying and getting them to the races is much quicker (than with yearlings).”
“You can't expect to just buy yearlings and sit on your hands for two or three years until they're ready. So we tried to have some tried horses ready to go.” - Dominic Sutton
Client relations
In addition to his purchases, Sutton was followed from Team Corstens by Rebadge (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a three-quarter brother to super sire Frankel (GB), and Group 3-placed Garachico (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}).
“I have a client from the UK who's very keen on building a broodmare band here and having a bigger footprint in Australian racing, he's been instrumental in backing me,” Sutton added. “He went out and bought five yearlings this year, which is pretty exciting, then we bought a couple off of our own backs.”
Rebadge (GB) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Another longstanding relationship that supports Sutton is Bennett Racing, and Sutton is proud to have Nathan Bennett’s orange and black chequered silks in his race day bag.
“I’ve always had dealings with Nathan (Bennett) over the years,” he said. “When I first moved over here, he was just starting up and was obviously a big supporter of Leon and Troy. I'm extremely grateful to them for sending me a few horses to get going with. Every horse at this stage helps, no matter what calibre, and to have their colours in the stable is great. I've got a great relationship with Nathan.”
“Every horse at this stage helps, no matter what calibre, and to have their (Bennett Racing's) colours in the stable is great.” - Dominic Sutton
Raw ability
One of his Ready to Run purchases would deliver Sutton’s first win as a trainer, with just his third runner, when Feroce debuted a winner at Pakenham in March.
“When we identified him, he wasn't necessarily a flashy breeze up, he was quite raw in the way that he galloped on the day,” said Sutton. “But what we loved about him is that he was a really strong individual who had a lot of scope and had a page behind him as well. He’s out of an O’Reilly mare who had already produced a stakes-performed horse and I love Super Seth.”
Feroce as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Feroce’s half-sister Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) won four of her six starts, winning the Listed Karaka Classic and coming second by 0.2l in the G2 Japan Trophy at her final start. Their dam, Corinthia (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), was unraced, but is a half-sister to G1 Rosehill Guineas-winning stallion De Beers (NZ).
“He (Feroce) came over and it took a little bit of time to iron out a few quirks with him, he wasn't the easiest horse early days,” Sutton said. “He was a horse that wanted to get up on the bridle and pull quite hard, you've got to make sure you don't set those types alight too easily. We spent a lot of time getting him to relax.
“To be honest I didn't think he was going to make it to the races in that first preparation. I thought it would just be an educational prep for him and we'd tip him out, but he kept improving. And those good horses, they tend to naturally come on quite quickly - he’s one of those.
“He was still very raw when he first hit the racetrack, and he seems to be getting better and better each time. I still don't think he's the finished article.”
Hard pill to swallow
Feroce followed up his debut with a win at Caulfield, then a fourth-placed effort at Listed grade at the end of his juvenile campaign. Returning as a 3-year-old, Sutton steered the gelding through two Group 3 races before taking his most recent leap of faith; entering his first runner in a Group 1 race. Feroce came agonisingly close - just 0.15l away - to delivering Sutton a supremely fast maiden win at the top level.
“It was a weird feeling, I’m not going to lie,” Sutton recalled. Feroce lined up a rank outsider in the G1 Caulfield Guineas earlier in October, barely beaten by the immaculately bred Private Life (Written Tycoon). “There was the big boom horse in Broadsiding, so it took a lot of pressure away from it. We were there knowing our horse was being overlooked in the market by a lot of people.
“I always knew he was going to love the mile - he doesn't possess a turn of foot over the shorter trips, and we knew he was going to be right in his distance range. He showed that in the Guineas Prelude where he was the strongest through the line.
“I honestly couldn't believe he was (a longshot), it honestly came down to the fact it had my name next to him instead of bigger trainers! But I went in relaxed, I knew we had the right horse, and we drew a nice gate.”
Favourite Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) would be well beaten in fourth, but Sutton was “gutted” to have run such a close second.
“To be honest when he crossed the line, I was gutted - I thought he could have won. It was a hard pill to swallow, there's a big difference between winning these races, going down in history forever, and coming second.
“To be honest when he (Feroce) crossed the line (in the G1 Caulfield Guineas), I was gutted - I thought he could have won. It was a hard pill to swallow...” - Dominic Sutton
“Although it was a great feat in itself, it does hurt a bit thinking what could have been. He got held in a pocket there for a bit which probably was the difference between the win and coming second. It took me a good week to process it all and come to terms with it.”
Looking ahead
On Saturday, Feroce faced six rivals at his last assignment for the spring, finishing a gallant third in G3 Carbine Club S. behind fellow Dundeel (NZ) descendant Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio). Sutton now turns his attention to the autumn carnival's prospects for his talented 3-year-old.
“There’s a couple of races on the radar, the Australian Guineas in March and then there’s this new slot race in New Zealand which he’s eligible for,” Sutton enthused. “There’s been quite a lot of interest from slot holders for him already, so we’ll weigh up which way we head.”
“There’s a couple of races on the radar (for Feroce), the Australian Guineas in March and then there’s this new slot race in New Zealand which he’s eligible for.” - Dominic Sutton
He added, “All trainers will tell you that you're always looking for more winners. We're just trying to build numbers (right now) and have more consistency, get some more clients in the door, and keep improving. If you get better and better as you go, then hopefully the results follow.”
Leaps of faith
Despite having runners for only half of the season, Sutton finished the 2023/24 season with four winners from a handful of starters. The team is small, but Sutton is excited for the juveniles that are yet to debut this season, and for the opportunities that the autumn offers to improve his stakes record. Later this month, the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale beckons him again, where he will no doubt be looking for another Feroce.
His closing advice: “You just have to back yourself at some stage. For a while, you'll always be thinking about what could go wrong and if it's the right move, but don't be afraid of failure.
“You just have to back yourself at some stage, you'll always be thinking about what could go wrong and if it's the right move, but don't be afraid of failure.” - Dominic Sutton
“You have to put yourself out there - if you trust your abilities then hopefully things will go right. We were fortunate that it did. Sometimes you've got to take the leap.”
