2005 was the best year yet for David Barker. But he's expecting even better results this year, he tells Colin Woods.

THE big black dog that bounded over to nuzzle my knee on arrival at David Barker's stable epitomised the friendliness of a happy yard with happy horses.

Situated just north of the village of Scorton and not much more than a stone's throw from Catterick racecourse, Barker is rapidly expanding following his best campaign, last year, when sending out 30 winners from only 29 individual runners.

It was an excellent 12 months for the North Yorkshireman, whose roots are in farming and quarrying, but now prefers to spend his time concentrating on getting racehorses to run from A to B faster than their rivals.

Barker's had the builders in over the winter and, as a result, added a 20-box barn to complement the existing 26 stables, all housed in a tranquil setting, well away from the main road.

Throw in further investment of a recently-laid woodchip gallop next to the premises and you get the idea Barker means business, ably assisted by his mother Pat, some hard-working lads from the Ukraine, along with Liz Maude, described by the boss as an "exceptional work rider".

Nothing breeds success like success and, having attracted new and enthusiastic owners providing an influx of superior stock, including 17 two-yearolds, Barker's hand has been significantly strengthened for this year.

He said: "The numbers and quality of the older horses has gone up and the two-year-olds are a pleasing mixture of sharp sorts and more long-term prospects, some cheap and some quite expensive. It's a very exciting time for us.

"We've got plenty of paddocks and, depending on the weather, in spring all of our horses are turned out whenever possible. We try and keep things as natural as possible here. The whole plan is to get more races out of them at the track, courtesy of less galloping at home, which is a principle we adhere to, and it seems to work for us.

"2005 was our best-ever season by far, the horses were very healthy all year. It doesn't matter how good your horses are, if they're not right they can't perform.

"But if they are 100 per cent, it means you can pick and choose which race to go for, which makes a big difference.

"Both Darlington farmer/haulier David Metcalfe and former successful Wetherby trainer Peter Asquith have supported me right from the start, which has been an invaluable help.

"Getting horses fit to win races is dead easy, it's ironing out all their individual problems which is the hard bit."

Wise words from Barker, who has kindly given readers plenty of food for thought by running the rule over a selection of his horses.

BRUT
He was placed a few times and won a small sprint for us at Thirsk last summer. Generally speaking Brut is a good solid each-way bet.

BOY DANCER
He was too weak to do himself justice last year, but will start his three-year-old career off on a lowly rating and could easily pop up one day over the coming months.

CELTIC MILL
Owned by Peter Asquith, Celtic Mill has been magnificent for us over recent seasons, including raising his profile even further in May by winning Sandown's Temple Stakes. It was an amazing day to pick up a Group Two race and then, having suffered a terrible fall back at the same track, it was super to see him get his confidence back by getting his head in front at Southwell. He'll be competing in top-class sprints again and, hopefully, there's more to come.

CHOYSIA
She's a lovely Pivotal filly, if a little highly strung. However, she has stacks of ability and starts this season off a rating of 89. Her two-year-old wins came at Thirsk (5f) and Haydock (5f), and, judging by family traits, there could be more improvement to come.

GALLANTRY
Bought out of Sir Michael Stoute's stable, Gallantry won a seven-furlong maiden at Warwick. We haven't pressed any buttons yet, although he looks a really nice four-year-old.

I'M SPARTACUS
He's an ex-David Flood horse who was very ill when he came to us with pneumonia. Lucky to still be alive, but a quality individual (won at York, plus a Group Three at the Curragh last May) who represents a tremendous addition if we can get him back to anywhere near his best.

MINT
Doesn't have a lot going for her confirmation-wise, nevertheless she picked up a 5f maiden at Thirsk and it's quite possible she'll win again for us at three.

MECCA'S MATE
She was a slow learner and we've had loads of patience with her. But having only run once as a two-year-old, and a handful of times as three-yearold, we reaped the benefit by winning five last season, including a listed event at Ayr.

Mecca's Mate has done very well over the winter at her owner's place (David Metcalfe), and I believe when the circumstances are right (coming off a fast pace on easy ground over five furlongs), she can win again.

MUARA
A half-sister to Whinhill House, she won a small five-furlong handicap at Redcar, in June.

With luck, the couple of problems she's had have now cleared up and there could definitely be more to come.

MR WOLF
He's Celtic Mill's half-brother and kept the family reputation intact by winning four for Peter Asquith last year, including three at Pontefract. He's very quick, likes going left-handed, and it would be nice to think he could progress in the same manner as Celtic Mill.

PRINCE TUM TUM
I claimed him at Musselburgh.

The only reason he was so cheap was, I think, he'd been driving his former trainer mad, being he's such a frustrating sort. Once again though, he's a quality individual, the type we can run in good class handicaps.

SIERRA VISTA
Like Mecca's Mate, she's owned by Darlington-based David Metcalfe. The two mares are boxed next door to each other, and spend the whole winter running together in a shed. In fact they're the best of pals. Sierra Vista improved out of the blue last year, winning five handicap sprints, including on Newcastle Plate Day (for the second year in a row), plus at Glorious Goodwood, Newmarket, and Haydock. She seems to thrive on the buzz of big crowds and big occasions.

SPARKWELL
Ex-Barry Hills who, like Prince Tum Tum and Gallantry, is owned by Circle Bloodstock from Sheffield. Sparkwell who won his seven-furlong maiden last year, is a fine, big black horse, and we're really looking forward to getting him on the track.

THROW THE DICE
He was with Kevin Ryan last season and is another morethan-useful useful sprinter (bought for 15,000 guineas at Doncaster's January sales) to add to the team.

WHINHILL HOUSE
After encountering many problems, such as a broken pelvis and sore shins as a young horse, he was a revelation over five and six furlongs last year. It helped beginning very low in the ratings, but his confidence was high and we just kept eking a bit more out of him, as a result of which he won seven. He runs exceptionally well for Robert Winston, who assures me there's a big handicap in him.

The fact Whinhill House managed to score on all three all-weather tracks, plus on turf at Carlisle and Ayr, shows his amazing versatility.

WOLFMAN
He's a full brother to Mr Wolf and possesses lots of ability.

However, he's had a few setbacks. If we can get those problems ironed out, he should be okay.