Written by Paul Vettise
Todd Pollard has landed a dream job in Sydney to take another important step towards fulfilling a long-held ambition to train in his own right.
Pollard has most recently worked for successful Cambridge conditioner Stephen Marsh and a chance conversation with bloodstock agent Andrew Williams has led him to securing a role with Annabel Neasham at Warwick Farm.
Neasham had previously managed the Sydney arm of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s training operation before setting up on her own and has quickly made her mark and garnered strong owner support.
Pollard has now landed the position as Neasham’s Assistant Trainer and is looking forward to expanding his experience.
“I fly out to Sydney next Monday and it’s a great stepping-stone, that’s for sure. Opportunities like this don’t come along very often so it’s nice to get in with Annabel and I'm really excited,” he said.
“I fly out to Sydney next Monday and it’s a great stepping-stone, that’s for sure.” – Todd Pollard
“I was talking to Andrew Williams on the phone one day, just a general conversation and he asked me how things were going. I said I was very happy working with Stephen, but it was always in the back of my mind to get to Australia.
“By coincidence, he had been chatting to Annabel and Andrew rang me back and said she was looking for an Assistant Trainer and to give her a call.
“It went back and forth for a little while and she offered me the job so it was perfect.”
Pollard’s official title with Group 1-winning trainer Marsh has been Racing Manager, but he was heavily involved in all facets of the stable.
Stephen Marsh
“I have always wanted to become a trainer and after I finished the Godolphin Flying Start program the job came up with Stephen and I was in the right place at the right time,” he said.
“I was more hands-on as a Racing Manager than you would expect. In the end, it was everything from owner communication, running a barn of 28 horses and I travelled a couple of times over to Australia.
“I was involved in the yearling and 2-year-old sales and went to the sales in Melbourne to find a couple of fillies for Stephen.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more and learned all sides of the business. Stephen has been great to work for and he has always been very helpful and is supportive of my move to Sydney.”
"Stephen has been great to work for and he has always been very helpful and is supportive of my move to Sydney.” - Todd Pollard
Pollard’s immediate family isn’t involved in racing, but there is history with thoroughbreds.
“My Dad’s aunty breeds a few horses and my great-grandfather was a regular seller at the Sales at Trentham,” he said.
“When I was 12-years-old we moved next to a racing stable so I went and knocked on the door and ended up working for Grahame Richardson for five years through high school.
“I wanted to be a trainer and then went and studied at Massey University and did a marketing degree and then on to the Flying Start so that all worked out really well.”
Timing can be everything in racing and Pollard will be joining Neasham’s operation at an ideal stage.
Annabel Neasham and Alix Turpin at the Inglis Classic Sale this week | Image courtesy of Inglis
“It’s probably one of the most exciting teams in Australia. She has the bloodstock and has been buying a lot at the yearling sales,” he said.
“It will be great with the big carnivals coming up to see what the 2 and 3-year-olds can do. I can’t wait to get over there and get involved in all the action.”
Pollard also played a role for the stable at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sale when he successfully bidded on behalf of Tony Fung, a supporter of Neasham’s yard, for a Fastnet Rock colt that was knocked down for NZ$350,000 from Trelawney Stud’s draft.
