Annabel Neasham to Fly Solo

Media Release - Friday July 10

After playing an integral role in the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable’s interstate success, Annabel Neasham is applying for a trainer’s license to be based at Warwick Farm Racecourse for the 2020-21 racing season.

Annabel Neasham is taking up training in her own right

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for me,” Neasham said. “I’ve worked for Ciaron for nearly four years now, including the last two seasons in Sydney. It’s been a great experience and a real learning curve, and now I’m ready to crack on and go out on my own.

“Ciaron is right behind me and has been very supportive. He’s been a great boss and mentor, and I couldn’t have got to this point without him.”

Having arrived in Australia from the UK four years ago, Neasham began with Gai Waterhouse before joining the team with Ciaron Maher.

She has risen rapidly through the ranks of Maher’s stable, being placed at the helm of the Sydney branch of the operation when established in 2018.

“We had a good first season in Sydney, and then it really spiralled into this season,” Neasham said. “I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be involved in the early careers of some wonderful horses, particularly this season with the likes of Prague, Away Game and Holyfield.

“Running the stable up here has also given me a solid grounding in the business side of operations, which is incredibly valuable for me as I start my own training career.”

Advertisement

Neasham’s previous role has also familiarised her with the excellent facilities at Warwick Farm, and helped to establish client relationships.

“I feel right at home at Warwick Farm now,” she said. “It’s a great training facility, especially for younger horses. It’s what I know. For any young trainer it’s important to start out with what you know.

“The doors will be open, and I’ll try to target some nice tried horses plus work hard to identify quality young stock at the sales.”

In addition to her experience at the Maher-Eustace stable, Neasham also boasts an extensive grounding in eventing in the UK. In another demonstration of her riding and horsemanship skills, she won the famously gruelling Mongol Derby in 2018 – a ten-day race over 1000 kilometres, riding for 13 or 14 hours per day.

“It was amazing, and it was pretty surreal to win it,” she said.

“I did it with Adrian Corby, who’s Ciaron’s breaker and is a terrific horseman. “It was a hell of an experience. I wouldn’t want to do it again, but I’m glad I did it. I guess you could say I’ve ridden a Derby winner! Now it’s time to try to train a Derby winner.”

Advertisment
More Reading...
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 28
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Doomben Debut Winner for Anders
Widden Stud’s young gun Anders added a seventh first crop winner to his tally on Wednesday with a debut victory at Doomben for handsome chestnut gelding Anders’ Style.
Glorious Goodwood Day 2 – Field of Gold is No Frankel
The second day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting was supposed to be the one where charismatic grey three year-old Field of Gold smashed his elders to win the Group I Sussex Stakes (1m), but that didn’t happen and instead we saw the longest priced G1 winner in British history.
Stewart honoured with Young Achiever at NZ National Breeding Awards
White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart was recognised with the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award at Saturday’s National Breeding Awards in Karapiro, highlighting his growing impact on New Zealand’s breeding and racing landscape.
Glorious Goodwood Day 1- Bluebloods, Bargains and Tragedy
The famed Glorious Goodwood meeting got underway overnight with three Group races contested that saw all of the favourites rolled with a new G1 winner for Justify, a first stakes-winner for a young Frankel sire son and a return to form for Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 30
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mark Ford Joins Widden Victoria as Stud Manager
Widden Stud is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Ford as Stud Manager of its Victorian farm at Riddells Creek.