Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding related - for 2025?
Apocalyptic winning the G1 Flight Stakes (and 2025 Princess Series). The scenes in the mounting yard post-race were incredible. A lot of excitement from a large, passionate group of owners in a very special filly.
Apocalyptic winning the G1 Flight Stakes at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Which first-season sires are you most excited to see at the 2026 yearling sales?
I’m excited to see Hitotsu’s first crop, as MyRacehorse has a share in the stallion. We’ve been hearing good things, so it will be fascinating to see how his progeny are received through the ring. Anamoe is a standout - a Champion racehorse who has covered an elite book of mares, and we’d love to walk home with one of our own. In The Congo also holds appeal, being by the late champion Snitzel and closely related to Autumn Glow.
Hitotsu | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?
Sophie Johnson at Michael Freedman Racing. She knows racing inside out, handles whatever gets thrown at her, and is brilliant with both our horses and owners. On top of that, she genuinely cares about what she does.
Sophie Johnson | Image courtesy of Sophie Johnson
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
'Keep the complex simple, and the simple compelling.' It’s advice I come back to often, whether in racing, business or leadership.
What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
A truly unified Australian racing pattern across all states. It would allow the best horses and jockeys to compete against each other more consistently, that’s what racing fans want to see.
Swap jobs with anyone, who, and what would you do?
I love my job. We have a fantastic team, and over 70,000 passionate MyRacehorse owners – it’s a special place to work. We’re incredibly fortunate to work with great people across the industry - stables, stud farms, ambassadors and media alike. I wouldn’t trade this role for anything.
What’s been the most challenging moment in your career, and how did it shape you?
Launching MyRacehorse. More than anything, the early years taught me resilience. Time off was rare, but it reinforced how important it is to truly love what you do. Above all, the experience shaped me by highlighting the value of a strong support network of friends, family and mentors - people who really matter in your life, not just your career.
Is there a particular horse you think about often? Why?
Winx. She was the greatest racehorse I’ve ever seen and inspired an entirely new generation of racing fans. That’s something we’re striving to do at MyRacehorse. To one day have a flag-bearer of her calibre that we could showcase around the world would be something else.
Winx | Image courtesy of Sportpix
What has been your favourite day at a racecourse?
It’s hard to go past Apocalyptic winning the Flight Stakes, but a close second was watching Willydoit win the 2025 G1 New Zealand Derby with 200 owners travelling over from Australia. That was elite.
Willydoit (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
If you could change one thing about the perception of horse racing, what would it be?
The perception that racing is bad for horses. Across racing, breeding, syndication and media, the industry is making positive changes to welfare standards. Anyone who spends time in stables sees firsthand the care and attention horses receive every day.
Initiatives like our Horse Super Fund is just one example of the commitment to ensuring horses have long, healthy and fulfilling lives well beyond their racing careers. It’s inspiring to be part of an industry that’s all pulling in the same direction to keep racing sustainable for the long term.
