07/07/2024
Aspiring racehorse trainer.
Current work rider for numerous classic/G1 winning trainers.
Former assistant trainer for William Haggas. Along side with the very successful Harry Eustace for a number of years. During my 8 years for Mr Haggas I worked in every sector of the job. From riding the best horses in work to flying/travelling horses internationally. Managing teams of up to 200 horses and 90 staff at times. I learnt a lot from the team at Sommerville lodge and work with a lot of very professional people.
Former work rider for Varian Stable Hanako Sonobe responsible in the mornings for multiple G1 horses including
TEONA Gr.1 Prix Vermeille winner and was sold after her racing career to Juddmonte Farms - FanPage for a cool £4.5 million.
BAYSIDE BOY Gr.1 winning miler of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; Won Gr.2 Champagne Stakes at 2. Now standing as a stallion for , Bayside covered a whopping 134 mares in his first season and I’m eagerly looking forward to see his produce on track.
SAKHEER Gr.2 winner of the Mill Reef stakes as a 2 yo.
I’ve been riding racehorse from the age of 12. Starting for my late father and former trainer David Morris (first trainer for Rebel Racing Ltd) I have also worked with some of the best trainers around the world including
Sir Mark Prescot Heath House Stables, David Hayes (Australlia), John Oshea (Australia), Charlie Appleby, William Haggas and Roger Varian to name a few.
Trying to start as a racehorse trainer, sadly, is incredibly difficult. It would seem the most important factor to be a successful trainer isn’t how good you are as a horseman but how good you are as a business man. In fact I would argue that the majority of trainers at the top of our sport have very little to none practical hands on skill with horses themselves. But what they do have is a connection to a world of people that have enough money to financially back them during their first years in business. Often fueled by family money and wealthy friends/connections from early school days the most privileged are often the only ones who really stand a chance at getting going in the world of training.
I am the complete opposite of what most would perceive as a racehorse trainer. I have not come from money. Everything I have I have worked for myself and I’m proud to say I’ve managed to purchase 3 houses from an average basic wage of £25k a year. Luckily the education I received from my father gave me a big head start with the horses. Allowing me to land a few punts along the way and become a relatively successful work ride/stable lad. Racing staff are massively underpaid for what they do and trying to train racehorse from a racing wage is quite the mountain to climb ⛰️. Even if your skills are responsible for the most successful horse in the world, you don’t get any Finantial recognition. Everyone in racing has heard of Frankel. Everyone knows Sir Henry trained him. Tom Quealy was his jockey and Teddy Grimthorpe was the racing manager. But outside the local community in Newmarket who knows the guy that had the hands on relationship with Frankel ? The same guy that showed up in all weather conditions to exercise him? The same guy who’s responsible for at least 50% of Frankels success?
I know his name. I know the horse his riding produced now turns over as much money as the entire annual prize pot Leavy for British racing. I also know he has a mortgage. And a family. He’s also never had a 2 day weekend in 35 years of work except for annual holidays booked. It’s sad that producing a horse that earns £100m annually can’t even buy you a 2 bed semi in Newmarket.
When I train officially. I will share my trainer’s percentage with the people that produce these horses. At least to a degree that I can afford because the people that make the difference deserve more than a “thanks” and a pat on the back.
I am like the guy that rode Frankel everyday. I feel the people that make the difference to the horses don’t get the financial reception they deserve and if I can find the right support from owners I will make it a mission to shine a light on the efforts and SKILL they have used to produce these equine athletes. There is very few trainers at the top of the training ranks that can actually handle racehorses themselves. I’d like to try and be a part of changing that in time but for now I need owners.
If you like what you have read here and would like to support a HORSEMAN get going as a racehorse trainer please do get in touch. Any support and advice will be greatly appreciated. I promise I’m one of the best at what I do and I’m sure any of the trainers I’ve mentioned above will be happy to recommend my services to the highest level. As will anyone that knows me in Newmarket. Please share. Any help I can get will be greatly appreciated!
