Our trainers

Henri‑Alex Pantall is a prominent French flat-racing trainer who launched his career in February 2000 with a Listed victory at Cagnes‑sur‑Mer aboard Russian Hope. He achieved his first Group 1 triumph in June 2007 when West Wind won the Prix de Diane under his guidance. Pantall has since accumulated three Group 1 wins, along with 17 Group 2 and 56 Group 3 victories across his career. He is also a two‑time winner of the Prix Texanita, taking the race in 2014 with Rangali and in 2015 with Goken. Pantall has trained standout horses like French King, rated 122 by Timeform. His training methods focus on sound physical conditioning and tactical awareness, helping his horses perform at the top level across France. With over 2,400 career wins and more than €81 million in prize money, Pantall remains a leading force in European flat racing.

Andreas Wöhler is one of Germany’s most accomplished and internationally respected racehorse trainers. Born in Dortmund in 1962, he grew up immersed in racing under the guidance of his father, Adolf Wöhler, a champion jump jockey and successful trainer. After his father’s passing in 1986, Andreas took over the family stable at just 23 years old and steadily built a reputation for excellence. Wöhler has trained multiple Group 1 winners, including Novellist, who triumphed in the 2013 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Protectionist, who delivered a historic victory in the 2014 Melbourne Cup—making Wöhler the first German trainer to win Australia’s most prestigious race. Over the decades, his horses have won the Deutsches Derby four times and numerous other elite races across Europe and beyond. Known for his meticulous preparation and global outlook, Wöhler continues to shape champions from his base in Gütersloh, Germany.

Joseph Patrick O’Brien (born 23 May 1993) is an Irish horse racing trainer and former champion flat jockey, son of legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien. As a jockey, he achieved extraordinary success: winning the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and Irish Derby on Camelot as a 19‑year‑old in 2012, and later again winning the Derby aboard Australia in 2014. He also claimed classics such as the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Roderic O’Connor, 2011), the Irish St Leger (Order of St George, 2015), and the Breeders’ Cup Turf on St Nicholas Abbey. After retiring from riding in March 2016, he quickly made his mark as a trainer, saddling his first Group 1 winner with Intricately in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in 2016. He then won the Melbourne Cup twice - Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020 - becoming the youngest-ever trainer to win the prestigious race. In 2018, he trained Latrobe to victory in the Irish Derby, also securing Group 1 wins with Iridessa, State of Rest, and Galileo Chrome in major races like the Pretty Polly Stakes, Cox Plate (2021), and St Leger (2020). With over 30 Group/Grade 1 winners as jockey and a growing list of elite victories as a trainer, Joseph O’Brien has firmly established himself as one of the finest figures in modern thoroughbred racing.

Maciej Janikowski has been one of Poland’s most enduring racehorse trainers, active since 1969. Over his long career, he has won the Polish Thoroughbred Derby six times, with triumphs ranging from Czerkies (1974) through Chryston (1982), Montbard (2004), Va Bank (2015), Westminster Moon (2023), to Magnezja (2024). His standout horse, Va Bank, achieved the Polish Triple Crown in 2015 and also captured the G3 Preis der Sparkassen‑Finanzgruppe in Baden‑Baden. Janikowski also prepared Westminster Moon, who won the 2023 Derby and elevated his stable’s recent profile. In addition to Derbies, his horses have triumphed three times in the prestigious Wielka Warszawska, notably with Zagara (1997), Merlini (2008), and Va Bank (2015). Known for consistency and longevity, Janikowski has also led Arab horse lineups and younger thoroughbreds to success, earning multiple trainer trophies. His legacy is defined by a rare combination of classic victories, international performance, and the development of top Polish racehorses.

Maciej Jodłowski is one of Poland’s leading racehorse trainers, with major wins both at home and abroad. His career highlights include victory in the prestigious Czech Derby, as well as top titles on the Polish racing scene: Polish Derby, Nagroda Rulera, Nagroda Dakoty, Arabian Oaks. Known for his tactical precision, Jodłowski consistently develops competitive, well-prepared horses. With over 20 years of experience, he remains a respected and successful figure in Central European racing.

Marlena Stanisławska earned her trainer’s license in 2023 and quickly emerged as a standout in Polish racing. She notably trained Le Destrier, which won the 2023 Wielka Warszawska - the first edition held with Listed status - after earlier capturing the Nagroda Prezesa Totalizatora Sportowego and setting a new course record over 2600 m. Her training extended successfully beyond Poland when she guided Hipop de Loire to victory in a Listed race in Berlin and other strong placings in German Group 3 contests. Before obtaining her license, she assisted top trainers like Tadeusz Dębowski and Mich­ał Borkowski and managed jockeys from Kyrgyzstan - Sanzhar Abaev and Dastan Sabatbekov - to wins in the jockeys’ championship. Known for her hands-on care, she rehabilitated tough cases like Le Destrier and Proletarius, earning the nickname “mamka” (mommy) from jockeys. With her rapid ascent, record-setting performances, and dedication to horse welfare, Stanisławska is forging a remarkable early legacy in Polish flat racing.

Adam Wyrzyk is one of the most accomplished and respected racehorse trainers in Poland. He has secured multiple victories in top-tier races, including the Polish Derby, Nagroda Rulera, and other classic events. Known for his professionalism and strategic training, Wyrzyk has developed many of Poland’s leading thoroughbreds. His horses regularly dominate at Służewiec Racecourse and perform well in international competition. He runs one of the most advanced and well-managed racing stables in the country. His approach combines modern training techniques with years of experience and deep racing intuition.

Edmondo Botti and Cristiana Brivio are a successful Italian training duo known for their achievements in European horse racing. Together, they operate Botti-Brivio Racing, combining experience and innovation in their training methods. One of their most notable victories came with Goldstream, who won the 2015 Italian Derby. They have also achieved international recognition with wins in prestigious races such as the Premio Lydia Tesio and the Premio Roma. The duo is respected for developing young talent and consistently preparing horses for top-level competition. Their teamwork and strategic planning have brought them widespread acclaim in the racing world. Botti and Brivio continue to play a key role in the modern success of Italian horse racing.

Bruno Grizzetti is a renowned Italian racehorse trainer with a successful career in European horse racing. He began his training career in the early 1990s and quickly gained recognition for his skill and consistency. Grizzetti has trained numerous top-level horses, including the outstanding filly Valletta. One of his most notable victories came in 2007, when he won the Italian Derby with Awelmarduk. He also achieved international success, winning prestigious races like the Premio Lydia Tesio and the Premio Roma. Grizzetti is known for his deep understanding of horses and his ability to develop young talent. His contributions have made him one of the most respected figures in Italian horse racing.

Václav Luka Jr. has been based at the Bošovice training centre since December 2008, consistently producing champions from his very first season. Domestically, his horses have won numerous classic races and multiple Czech trainer championships, securing black-type victories both in Slovakia and Austria .Internationally, Luka has achieved success in France, notably with Wireless winning a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte and placing in Group 3 events like the Prix Quincey Barrière. In 2017, his stable earned roughly CZK 60 million (≈€2.2 m) in prize money abroad, including three French winners that year. His standout horses include Nagano Gold - a Czech classic winner who triumphed in the Listed Prix Lord Seymour at Longchamp - and Wireless, Beau Massagot, and Ventaron, who secured a hat-trick at the 2019 Bratislava Turf Gala. Luka’s operation focuses on a blend of domestic and international campaigns, running around 60 horses each season in both the Czech Republic and across Europe . Known for logistical prowess and strategic ambition - as evidenced by his leadership election to the Czech Trainers’ Association in January 2025 - Luka has firmly established himself as a driving force in Central European flat racing.