WIILLIAM KNIGHT is swiftly developing a reputation as one of British racing’s most promising young trainers, having enjoyed a successful first few years to his career. Since starting out on his own in 2006, William has built up a professional and successful operation at Lower Coombe Stables in West Sussex ’s historic Angmering Park.
Season by season his results have improved and 2010 was his best campaign when he notched up 34 winners and among those were two Group race triumphs both provided by Illustrious Blue.
After five years with a licence, William has proved himself an upwardly mobile trainer. The result has been a better-quality yearling intake year on year. For 2011, in terms of both home-breds and those horses acquired at the sales, he feels his two-year-olds are, in general, the nicest bunch he has had to date.
William, an honours graduate in Equine Business Management at the Royal Agricultural College , Cirencester, has certainly got ticks in all the right boxes as far as doing the job to a high standard is concerned. He honed his horsemanship skills either side of the Millennium, performing key roles as assistant trainer to leading handlers John Hills and Ed Dunlop.
With the latter, he spent five informative years, playing an integral part in the international successes of such names as champion filly Ouija Board, multiple Group 1 winner Lailani, Independence and other top-class horses. Such an experience wasn’t wasted on him and this enthusiastic and talented trainer is now making an impact in his own right.