Former English trainer Leon Phillips begins racing Queensland racing operation with Mishani.

It’s taken five years but Englishman Leon Phillips has finally found a complex worth training at in Australia and it’s situated in the humble surrounds of Beaudesert.

IT’S taken five years but Englishman Leon Phillips has finally found a complex worth training at in Australia and it’s situated in the humble surrounds of Beaudesert.

Phillips has taken out his training licence and is operating out of the new facilities built by Mishani Enterprises owner Mike Crooks.

The 39-year-old moved to Australia in 2014 with his partner and has been on the search ever since to find somewhere to rival the world famous Newmarket facilities he once operated out of between a stint in Madrid.

“I used to train in Newmarket in England which is probably the best in the world, this comes close to that,” Phillips said.

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“I have been intending to start training again but never found the right complex to want to train from.

“A lot people would call me a spoiled Pommy but I have had the best training facilities in the world and going to places in Sydney and some of the stable yards just don’t cut it for me.

“As soon as I met Mike and he showed me around his place I thought ‘wow, I can train horses here’.

“The main thing about training horses is happy horses. If you have happy horses you will get winners.”

Leon Phillips (middle) has begun training in Queensland.

Crooks’ training complex has turnout yards, a swimming pool, water treadmill, barn, uphill grass gallops and sand tracks while a mounting gallop course is being built that will lead into a trail ride.

“It’s a beautiful training complex and state-of-the-art,” Phillips said.

“It’s got everything you could wish for. It’s an exciting time and we appreciate Mike’s support for Queensland racing.

“He has put a lot into it and it’s paying off with the winners he is getting.”

When asked about what he could now do with his horses, Phillips echoed Crooks’ mantra: “Mishani is coming”.

“We have some great stock coming through and we have about 26 two-year-olds set to race next year. All at QTIS bred which is very important to Mike.”