A NEW racing company has been launched to take on the big southern-based Flat owners at their own game.

Northern Thoroughbreds is hoping to raise £1m to buy and race a small but select string of potential stars in a bid to wrest some of the bigger prizes from the grip of the powerful southern operations.

The company, chaired by the Marquess of Zetland, has put together a strong team which includes Christopher Donald as managing director, bloodstock agent Luke Lillington and Paul Morrison as racing manager.

The men charged with training the Northern Thoroughbreds hopefuls are Yorkshire big guns Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby, while Timeform guru and Channel 4 racing pundit Jim McGrath has been recruited as a consultant.

Lord Zetland said: "From a perspective of pure horse quality, there definitely exists a north-south divide at most levels.

"But by capitalising on a wide range of local skills and experience, Northern Thoroughbreds intends to challenge that by offering a select few the opportunity to participate in the collective ownership of well-bred horses who, we hope, will be able to race at the top level."

The squad of horses will race for two years under the Northern Thoroughbreds banner, but with a maximum of 50 shares available at £20,000 a share, membership of the syndicate is not for the faint-hearted or fun owner.

Christopher Donald said: "There's a lot of northern spirit behind this concept and, by embracing our pooled system of ownership, we believe it will provide people with the best chance possible of getting a good horse."

Paul Morrison, who runs East Layton Stud at Aldborough, said the company was looking to buy five or six well-bred yearlings this autumn with a view to having its first runners next season.

He added: "Nobody is under any false illusions that this is going to be easy. But given the team we've assembled, we've got every chance of succeeding."