In a shock announcement, trainer Les Ross has confirmed he will not be renewing his training license at the end of this season. A decision which will mark the end of one of the most successful owner/trainer partnerships in racing … that between Ross and Mike Crooks’s Mishani Enterprises, whose run of two-year-old successes, amongst others, over the years has been unparalleled.
“I know I’ve said it a hundred times before … but I am stopping this time. I’m not renewing my license,” stated Ross.
“When is a good time to stop? You tell me.
“When should you walk away? Do you walk away when you are winning plenty of races? Do you walk away when you are losing plenty of races … or, do you walk away when yoot prostate’s coming out and your license is due for renewal? There’s no good time.”
Unbeknown to many, Ross has been fighting prostate cancer for four years and when his desire to take a step back from training and his prostate issue converged, reaching a joint focal point on July 31, it prompted Ross to make his call.
“It’s uncanny that on July 31, on the day that my license runs out … that’s the day I go in for my prostate operation. I’m having it taken out of July 31. I made the decision to take it out about three months ago, and July 31 was the day they could take me in.
“I would have to have at least a month off and then come back after the operation … and my heart’s not in it. It’s not fun for me anymore … even when I’m winning … so I thought I’ve just got to bite the bullet and not renew my license.
“The diagnosis and the cancer have really shaken me up at times, but it’s never made me sick or anything. Nobody can see it, but it’s just been a worry.
“The thing that was scaring me the most was that I didn’t want to fall out with Crooksie (Mike Crooks). I didn’t want to let him down … but he was good about it … really good about it.
“He was a bit shocked at first, but he said, ‘mate, I’ve stopped you (from retiring) twice now, I’m not going to hold you back now’ … so the good thing is we are parting ways as mates.
“That lifted a big weight off my mind … because we’ve been mates for fifteen years now. He’s been so good to me and I wanted that good relationship to continue.
“I’ve been training for thirty years and fifteen of them have been for Crooksie, so I’ve learnt more off him than anyone. He’s taught me so much in life and given me opportunities.
“People say I am a good trainer of two-year-olds, but, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to do what we have done. He gave me the opportunity not only to train the Mishani two-year-olds, but to do what I wanted to do with them.
“There was no … you can’t do this … you should do this … you shouldn’t start them there … none of that! So, again, he was really good for me.”
You could say they were good for each other.
So good in fact that they set a record with their two-year-old runners in the first half of last season that is likely to stand behind Ross’s name for many years to come.
“Last year was our best year as far as two-year-olds are concerned,” said Ross, taking up the story. “I trained ten winners in the three months before Christmas last year and won over $1 million in prize-money … so, yeah, there have been some really good times.”
That certainly has set a target which will be hard to beat.
And it’s not over yet. Ross’s trainers license still has a month to run.
Then it’s on to July 31 … and beyond.
“Two years ago, I bought a motorhome,” said Ross, “and I think I’ve only done 10 000km in it.
“Hopefully I can get that mileage creeping up a bit more later in the year,” said Ross, a hope echoed by all who know the man.
