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| Staff Writer |
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Adrian Nicholls is confident about his Royal Ascot prospects at his Thirsk training base in North Yorkshire. His 3YO filly Maw Lam has already shown her potential with a creditable third-place finish in the Queen Mary Stakes. Now, the former Group One-winning jockey turned trainer is set on accumulating black-type wins that will enhance her breeding value.
The daughter of Acclamation embodies everything Nicholls learned during his remarkable 19-year riding career; a journey that took him across 12 countries and culminated in two Group One victories aboard the Regal Parade. But as he prepares for another Royal Ascot assault, it's clear that Nicholls has found his calling in developing horses with solid potential rather than chasing headline-grabbing superstars.
"She's been fantastic already, being placed in many good races. The main aim is to try and get her a stakes win with breeding in mind," explains Nicholls. The strategy is clear: accumulate black type credentials that will make Maw Lam an attractive proposition when her racing career concludes.
When Chris Hurst purchased Maw Lam as a yearling, the breeding immediately caught Nicholls' experienced eye. "She's a well-bred filly. Acclamation being a sire with very speedy influence, and she was a beautiful filly as a baby," reflects Nicholls. The combination of pedigree and physical attributes proved attractive to both trainer and owner, particularly with Hurst's long-term breeding plans.
The filly had already shown promise before arriving at Royal Ascot, having won on debut and finished second in the Hilary Needler at Beverley.
"She's Group Two placed, Group Three placed, and Listed placed," Nicholls emphasises.
"She's been unlucky not to win a stakes race yet." Her Royal Ascot performance confirmed she belongs at pattern race level, even if she's not quite in the top tier.
"It was a combination of both," Nicholls explains when discussing her inherited traits. "We did try her over seven furlongs early on in her first run this season, and it stretched her a little bit. We went to Ireland back over five and a half, which was probably a mistake, and I think six furlongs is her ideal trip."
"I think she's the best juvenile we've had, the good horses we've had have developed later on," Nicholls reflects with evident pride.
The target now is the Commonwealth Cup, a Group One contest representing a significant step up in class even for a filly who has already proven herself at the highest level. "Well, hopefully she can get her head in front on Friday," Nicholls said when discussing her immediate plans. "I'm a big believer in horses getting confident. She's raced against many fillies that run in the Commonwealth Cup and has been competitive with all of them."
The challenge of taking on the Colts adds another dimension to the task ahead. "Against the colts, there's some fantastic opposition, and we are tilting at windmills a little bit with the opposition, but there's only one Commonwealth Cup," admits Nicholls with characteristic realism about his filly's chances against the division's elite.
The partnership with owner Chris Hurst has been built on shared ambitions and realistic expectations. "Her owner, Chris Hurst, is very keen; he likes to have runners at Ascot whenever possible," notes Nicholls.
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The international aspirations Nicholls harbours for Maw Lam echo those of his legendary father, David Nicholls, who famously targeted sprint races worldwide. "I would love to go to Dubai - I've always wanted to have a runner there," reveals Nicholls with evident excitement. The Dubai Carnival, emphasising speed and shorter distances, could provide the ideal platform for a filly of Maw Lam's profile to shine.
"She would more than likely go to France at some point, whether it's for the Abbaye or not, I'm not 100% sure," he continues. The successful patterns of the past continue to influence present decisions. "I won a stakes race at Deauville with a very similar type of filly called Mostly, so she may well follow that path," he explains.
Nicholls's training philosophy draws heavily from his father's influence and that of head lad Ben Beasley, who worked for both generations of the family. "To be honest, my training is very much - I worked for some sensational trainers worldwide, but as far as sprinters go, I learned pretty much everything from my father and his head lad Ben Beasley. They worked together, and Ben Beasley worked for me in his latter years and taught me." The approach focuses on mental conditioning: "We do a lot of lunging, and a lot of loops work with the horses - it's more about keeping them mentally happy," he explains. "Getting horses fit is very easy; picking the right races is my job, and I enjoy that side of the training."
"I feel if you can get the horse's mind in a good place, like any athlete, they'll thrive under it," he adds with the conviction of someone who has seen this philosophy work at the highest level.
Tony Hamilton, the former jockey who rides Maw Lam in her morning work, has become integral to implementing this approach. "She's a straightforward filly for me to train. She loves her work," notes Nicholls. "Tony Hamilton, who rides her every morning, is a former jockey who does a lot of her work with her, and he'll continue to do that."
"I feel if you can get the horse's mind in a good place, like any athlete, they'll thrive under it," he adds with the conviction of someone who has seen this philosophy work at the highest level.
Nicholls' unique background as a Group One-winning rider provides him with invaluable insights when preparing horses for the most significant occasions. His riding career, which began at the tender age of 15 in Norway after finding "a loophole in the age restrictions," taught him lessons that now serve him well in the training ranks.
"When I was a jockey, I was fortunate to ride all over the world in some huge races," he reflects. "As a trainer, I try to take it race by race - the horses don't know what kind of race it is." This pragmatic approach has served him well, particularly when handling the pressure of big race targets.
The emotional highlight of his riding career - a Group One victory at Haydock when his father had just emerged from the hospital - shaped his perspective on what truly matters in racing. "I have excellent owners who put their trust in me to train them," he reflects. "As a trainer, I don't feel pressure if I've done all the work at home and the horses are fit and well. It should be in the hands of the gods after that - what happens out on the racetrack. As long as I've done my job and tried to prepare the horse as best as possible, I don't feel any pressure."
Operating from his base in Thirsk with a carefully selected team of 25 horses, Nicholls has built a solid operation focused on getting the best from horses with genuine ability. The family-run stable, managed alongside his wife Clare, represents everything he learned during his apprenticeships with legendary trainers Barry Hills and Derby winner Ian Balding.
"Barry was a firm boss; he kept me grounded," Nicholls recalls his time with Hills. "Ian was a gentleman of a boss, he was fabulous with apprentices and thought of me more than just how to be a jockey, an all-round great fella, who gave me some amazing opportunities."
The transition from jockey to trainer wasn't immediate. After retiring in 2016, Nicholls spent time at the British Racing School before realising his true calling. "Never crossed my mind to be honest, I took a year out and went to the British Racing School, teaching the young kids, it was enjoyable for a time, but I realised it was teaching horses that I wanted to do."