Biography
1973 – Spent one year with California-based trainer, John Fulton, followed by another year as assistant to Charlie Whittingham, the doyen among west coast trainers.
1976 – Transferred from California to Kentucky to further his education at Darby Dan Farm, in Lexington. Moved from there to Nydrie Stud, in Virginia, to prepare yearlings for auction at Saratoga in August. Returned to Britain to do likewise at
Burton Agnes Stud, in Yorkshire, ahead of Europe’s premier yearling auction, the Tattersalls Highflyer Sales.
1977 – Spent the yearling season at Brownstown Stud, in Ireland, before transferring to the celebrated National Hunt trainer, Fred Winter. Followed this with spells at Mme Couterie’s Haras du Mesnil in France, and with that country’s master trainer, Francois Boutin.
1979 – Completed the management course at the National Stud in Newmarket.
1980 – Joined the Curragh Bloodstock Agency in Ireland, advancing to director within two years, with overall responsibility for trading in bloodstock right across the range: stallions, broodmares, racehorses, yearlings, foals and National Hunt store horses.
Grade 1 National Hunt winners purchased as unraced stores: Amarach, Another Breeze, Aonoch, Another Coral, Brown Trix, Burnt Oak, Ekbalco, Golden Freeze, Hazy Sunset, Lean Ar Aghaidh, Solar Cloud, Very Promising, Waterloo Boy.
1985 – Recruited by by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. Spent 14 years as the sheikh’s racing manager. During this period Sheikh Mohammed was the leading owner nine times in England, six times in France and four times in Ireland.
Champions/Group 1 winners purchased on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed: Ajdal, Alydaress, Arazi, Asteroid Field, Authaal, Bairn, Barathea, Belmez, Braiswick, Carnegie, Cezanne, Cloudings, Diminuendo, El Cuite, Ensconse, Flagbird,
Flamenco Wave, Flemensfirth, Fort Wood, Goldmark, Gracioso, Hailsham, Halling, Imperial Frontier, In The Wings,
Indian Skimmer, Intrepidity, Ivanka, Jade Hunter, Kayf Tara, Keen Hunter, King’s Theatre, Kitwood, Knifebox, Lalouche,
Link River, Lycius, Mashaallah, Melodist, Moonax, Musical Bliss, Nasr El Arab, Nom de Plume, Old Vic, Opening Verse,
Opera House, Overbury, Panoramic, Pebbles, Pennekamp, Pharian, Polish Precedent, Port Helene, Possessive Dancer,
Quiet American, Red Bishop, Royal Gait, Sadeem, Salse, Scenic, Shaadi, Shamshir, Shantou, Snow Bride, Sonic Lady, Soviet Star, Sure Blade, Taffeta And Tulle, Tel Quel, Three Tails, Torrential, Unite, Untold, Water Boatman, Winged Love, Wolfhound, Zilzal
1999 – With Sheikh Mohammed’s blessing, established Anthony Stroud Bloodstock Ltd, an independent agency utilised by high-profile Flat owners and National Hunt enthusiasts alike for its expertise in all bloodstock-related matters.