Woods fulfilling eastern promise

Woods rode more than 80 National Hunt winners, including Inlander, on whom he won the Bic Razor Gold Cup at Lingfield.

He then turned towards training and spent a learning period with Tony Hide, now his father-in-law.

Racing still runs in the family. Woods's eldest brother Dwayne is a bloodstock agent and runs the family stud at Tuddenham, 10 miles outside Newmarket. His other brother, Wendyll, is a jockey in Hong Kong for Lawrence Fownes, their uncle.

But it is Sean who is flying at present.

Woods's first top-class horse was the flying grey Mistle Cat, who won a Group One event and was in the first four in 26 of his 30 races.

Last season, he trained the brilliant juvenile Atlantis Prince. to win all his four races, including the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in September. The colt also gave Frankie Dettori his first victory back after his horrific plane crash, and later went to join the powerful Goldolphin team in Dubai.

"This year, I will be operating with a pool of around eight jockeys including John Reid, George Duffield, Frankie, Steve Drowne, Richard Hughes when available and the good claimer Chris Catlin," said Woods. From all his horses, Woods has given Standard Sport readers three to follow:

CAUVERY: "A three-year-old chestnut colt by Exit to Nowhere. He is rated 106. He will start off in the Boedicea Stakes at today's Craven Stakes meeting. He will then be aimed at our 2000 Guineas or the Italian equivalent."

Cauvery won his maiden at Newcastle in June last year but pulled a muscle in his next race, after which he was found to have mucous on his lungs. However, he was later a creditable seventh of 13 to King Charlemagne (beaten just a length and three quarters) in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes.

LUCAYAN CHIEF: "A three-year-old bay colt by With Approval, rated 102. He has done well through the winter and will be heading for one of the 2000 Guineas trials and go on from there, possibly to the Italian Guineas. He will probably get 10 furlongs in time."

Lucayan Chief won his maiden at Beverley in August and followed up by being placed in a Listed Newbury event and the Prix La Rochette at Chantilly.

CHARMER VENTURE: "A three-year-old chestnut filly by Zilzal. She was fourth to Quick to Please in a maiden at Doncaster last October and won by eight lengths on her reappearance at Lingfield. She will probably contest better races later on in the year - she could be anything."

Overall, Woods looks to be on the threshold of a great season. He said: "I would like to produce a champion racehorse of his or her generation. For me, racing is a way of life and my ambition is to have one hell of a life!"