Lionel Cohen (pictured with connections of Sun Classique) has been granted his full, open training licence by Racing New South Wales in Australia. Lionel, who still has a firm business interest in the South African racing industry from an Equimark and breeding perspective, will start his new training operation from the beginning of August from his allocated premises at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.

An excited Cohen said: "I am confident and feel I am now ready to start training"

Lionel, who has been working along side David Payne in previous months, says he has a lot to thank him for. "David in some way has pioneered the path for South Africans' wanting to train in Australia. His success in both countries has helped me tremendously in understanding the transition and differences between them." "My time spent with David has been invaluable, I have learnt a lot, and I am very grateful to him for this".

"I am also very fortunate enough to begin a new career at this stage of my life. Breeding horses has always been my passion, and I am very excited to now be able to train them as well. Its something I have always wanted to do"

Lionel already has a couple of horses, amongst which there are a few of 2 year olds and some yearling which he has acquired in recent visits to Australia, but says that he will not be rushing into any major operation just yet.

Although Cohen has settled in well, his interests back home are still of vital importance to him. His Equimark sales company is still a very significant investment, he said, and will be travelling back regularly for his sales dates. Lionel has set a temporary date for an additional Equimark sale which will take place the Monday after the J&B Met in 2011. The yearling sale will work closely with the newly set date of the TBA Cape sale to be held at the Cape Town convention centre the week prior.

There have been very positive synergies between the South African and Australian equine industries over the past decade, and Lionel also sees his breeding experience as a possible opportunity and added service to be had for horse traders from both countries. His understanding and experience of both centres, coupled with his invaluable breeding knowledge, could be a beneficial factor to those wanting to preserve interests in the industry abroad.

We wish Lionel Cohen and his wife Caroline, the very best of luck in their new endeavour abroad.-Mark Bass