Mick Channon handing over licence to son Jack in the new year

Mick Channon has announced he will hand over his training operation to son Jack from the new year.

Channon, 73, first took out a licence in 1989 and recently saddled the 2,500th winner of his career on the Flat in Britain.

Formerly a top-class footballer for Southampton, Norwich, Manchester City and England, he also reached the top in his second career – winning Group Ones with the likes of Piccolo, Zafeen, Tobougg and Queen’s Logic.

He came so close to landing the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Youmzain finishing runner-up on a remarkable three occasions.

Channon said: “The licence will be handed over to Jack as from the start of next year. It’s been a great way of life for over 30 years and I can’t thank everyone that has helped us enough. I couldn’t have got there without them.

“I started with 10 horses in Lambourn where we had a great time, and Jack was born there. We had some good horses and good people work for us.

“When I came in I was a footballer entering the big horrible world of horse racing, but we thought if we bought some sharp two-year-olds we would have a chance of making it. Everyone does that now, but we had Gill Richardson who was a great judge at the sales and bought us a lot of nice horses. I have to thank her and Gill Hedley, who still runs the show, and also Peter Tain and Patrick Trant.

“We bought a lot of cheap horses for Jaber Abdullah such as Queen’s Logic, Flashy Wings and Music Show, as well as Zafeen who was second in the Guineas and won the St James’s Palace Stakes. Jaber was brilliant.”

Youmzain’s first Arc run saw him beaten just a head by Dylan Thomas, a result confirmed after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry into interference caused by the winner.

“Youmzain was a very good older horses who according to French rules should have been awarded his first Arc in the race won by Dylan Thomas,” said Channon.

“It was the only time over there I didn’t see a result turned around for the interference that occurred.

“But he went on to win the Grand Prix de Paris and finish second in three Arcs on the bounce.”

He added: “I wish Jack well, he’s ably assisted me for seven seasons and the time is right for him to take over. But I will still be around, helping on the breeding side and not in the wilderness.”

Jack Channon said: “Dad will be more integral than ever and the most important part of my team. He will still do what he enjoys most and if anything he will enjoy it more.

“I spent a year with Graham Motion in the States and another with John O’Shea in Australia. And time with Clive Brittain.

“The plan is to start with around 60. Certain Lad is a very decent older horse and there will be the Lincoln and Cambridgeshire winners Johan and Majestic as well as some very nice three-year-olds like Rathgar, Moush and today’s runner Caernarfon.

“All the owners have been sensational standing by dad and me and I’m blessed to have all their continued support to make training a success.

“I’m extremely lucky to start in a place like West Ilsley which has so much heritage, notwithstanding the best gallops in the world.”

Youzmain consistently made the frame in top-flight races all across the globe – heartbreakingly going close in three attempts on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket was his first Listed success in 2006, swiftly followed with wins in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at York and the Group One Preis von Europa in Cologne.

The following season he was beaten by Dylan Thomas in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, falling four lengths short in the midsummer showpiece.

A 66-1 outsider in the 2007 Arc at Longchamp, he defied his odds to finish just a head behind Dylan Thomas again, a result that stood after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry into potential interference from the winner.

The next year he claimed the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and returned to Longchamp for another shot at the Arc.

The brilliant filly Zarkava was his nemesis this time, beating Youmzain by two lengths to leave him runner-up once again.

In 2009 Youmzain lined up for a third Arc attempt, but was again just two lengths off the lead as this time none other than Sea The Stars crossed the line in front.

The horse was eventually retired to stud in 2010 after running 32 races in six different countries and amassing a huge £3,394,269 in prize-money.

The unbeaten Queen’s Logic ran just five times during a short but hugely successful career.

The filly gained black type form when winning the Queen Mary Stakes in 2001 before stepping up to Group Two company to take the Lowther at York.

Her two-year-old season was capped off with a Group One success in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, before she made just one appearance as a three-year-old when winning the the Fred Darling at Newbury.

She was subsequently retired to stud with an unblemished record and £198,896 in prize-money.

Channon’s first Classic winner came in 2012 when Samitar triumphed in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

The filly had already banked a Group victory by taking the Albany Stakes at Ascot as a two-year-old before hitting the woodwork in a succession of high-grade races.

The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar then peaked when prevailing by a length and a half in the Irish Classic contest before being sold the USA to be trained by Chad Brown.

After a relatively inauspicious two-year-old season, Piccolo came to form as a three-year-old when taking a Listed race at Newcastle and finishing second in the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown.

A Group One followed in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York – where he was second past the post but promoted to first following the disqualification of Blue Siren – before he went on to take the runner-up spot in the Haydock Park Sprint Cup.

Piccolo ran just four times as a four-year-old, claiming a Royal Ascot victory in the King’s Stand Stakes and coming home second behind Lake Coniston in the July Cup at Newmarket on his last ever run.

Second on his Group-race debut in the Prix Morny at Deauville, Zafeen went one better on his next run to claim the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

As a three-year-old he was second by just three-quarters of a length to Refuse To Bend in the 2000 Guineas, eventually posting a Group One triumph when taking the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Channon was briefly responsible for the Godolphin-owned Tobougg, saddling him in his first three starts as a two-year-old.

It was a highly successful partnership, however, as the colt followed up his maiden victory at York with a win in the Group One Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp.

Next was a one-and-quarter-length triumph in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, after which the unbeaten bay changed hands and saw out the rest of his career with Saeed bin Suroor.