Todd Pollard - Stephen Marsh Racing
TDNAusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
TP: I grew up in Matamata and always had a bit of a following of the racehorses from a young age with my Great Grandfather and Aunty being small breeders.
One of my earliest memories was my Dad telling me on the way to rugby training that a filly my Aunty had bred and owned had won a trial that day. Her name was Rosetti Bay (NZ) (Pins) and I always followed her closely (she went on to win 8 races). By the age of 13 I had an after school job with a trainer in Matamata and have always wanted to train since then.
Todd Pollard with American Pharoah (USA)
TDNAusNZ: What was the biggest highlight of the season?
TP: Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia d'Oro) winning the New Zealand Derby was very special. It has been our only Group 1 of the season but they don't get any bigger than a Derby!
TDNAusNZ: What do you love most about your job?
TP: I guess the dynamic nature of it all. No two days are the same and there is always something different going on. I enjoy watching the horses progress from when they arrive into the stable right through to when they get to the races. You can't beat the feeling of when a horse from the stable crosses the line first.
TDNAusNZ: Can you describe Stephen in one word?
TP: Easygoing
TDNAusNZ: Do you have a favourite horse in work right now? Why?
TP: I'm very biased towards a horse with ability so it would be Crown Prosecutor after winning two stakes races for the season.
TDNAusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star in the racing industry? (person, not horse)
TP: Cameron Ring. Top bloke and has the gift of the gab which always helps in this industry.
TDNAusNZ: If you were an Everest slotholder, who would you pick?
TP: Santa Ana Lane (Lope de Vega {Ire}). It's hard to ignore his performances, especially on the big days.
TDNAusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
TP: More direction for young people coming into the industry in order to retain them and give them guidance. This could be achieved through scholarships, cadetships etc. specific to each aspect of the industry. I was extremely lucky to get selected for the Godolphin Flying Start and would love to see other younger people target things such as this to travel, be exposed and learn from other jurisdictions around the world.
TDNAusNZ: If you weren’t in the racing industry what would you be doing?
TP: Accountant or Rural Banker.
Todd Pollard with Ardrossan
