Mail Online

Sugarfoot is enjoying the “easy life” as a stallion not far from where he was stabled during his successful racing career.

The ultra-tough son of Thatching, now 13, made the transition from top handicapper to Group-race performer in the hands of Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler.

Following his retirement in July 2001 at the age of seven, he went to Beechwood Grange Stud near York, but has been at his present home, Norton Grove Stud, for the last three years. The stud is just four and a half miles from Tinkler’s yard.

“I see him quite regularly as he’s not far from me,” said Tinkler.

“He was absolutely fantastic and is a great old favourite of mine. His mares are limited, but I’ve got two two-year-olds by him, one out of Edge Of Darkness and one out of Desert Loch.

“I’m supporting him the best I can without overdoing it. He’s a superstar and I appreciate Norton Grove Stud taking such good care of him.

“He was around a long time in contrast to most Flat horses, who are usually around for just a couple of years and are soon forgotten.”

Richard Lingwood, owner of Norton Grove Stud, said: “He’s a grand-looking horse and a nice one to deal with.

“He’s having a very easy life, but his lack of success on the racecourse (with his progeny) is because he is short of customers.  We advertise him at a fee of £1,000, but we negotiate.”

“Whether his off-spring will need time we’ll see. He’s had a few places with his runners and the nearest he came to having a winner for us was foiled by Nigel himself. He had two in the same race and won with the other one.”

Sugarfoot was an admirably durable performer at around a mile, winning nine of his 41 races and more than £250,000 in prize money.

He won two Group Three races, both at Doncaster, a Listed contest at Ascot and was a standing dish at York where his four victories included back-to-back successes in the valuable Bradford & Bingley Handicap in 1998 and 1999.