Maybe he has not spent quite as many years as his Royal namesake did in awaiting his coronation. But for Charlie Johnston it has also been a near lifetime of preparation before finally taking the throne at Middleham after succeeding his record-breaking father Mark this year.
As his mother Deirdre once told me: “It would be fair to say that Charlie posted his job application at the age of five!”
Today, the 32-year-old himself concurs with that assessment. “People say to me ‘Were you always going to do this?’ And I think the honest answer is probably yes,” he says. “I don’t remember any point in my life when I was on any other path than this end goal. It’s been a long time in the making, so I certainly haven’t been pushed in the deep end, that’s for sure.”
In truth, he has been the de facto guv’nor of Kingsley House Stables, located on the North Yorkshire moors, for some years. And yet, you remind him, it is one hell of a power-shift; from being his father’s assistant after returning to the yard in 2015 as a qualified vet, to holding a joint licence with him last year, and now to having ultimate responsibility for the stable’s charges.
And, remember, this is not just any racing establishment but a behemoth of a training facility; one which has been created from the dilapidated stables Johnston Snr bought in 1988 to one which now stables around 240 horses in three yards.
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton