Familiar Brisbane face set for new gig

By Jordan Gerrans

Horseman Todd Pollard feels having resided in the Sunshine State for the last four years will be a distinct advantage when he officially kicks off his own training tenure in the near future. 

The smiling Kiwi is a familiar face to many within the Queensland racing game as he was the Brisbane stable boss for the Annabel and Rob Archibald camp until recently launching his own venture.

While Pollard was able to savour in several Group 1 triumphs when leading the local charge for the Archibald team, he was also instrumental in the way he ran the basics of the stable behind-the-scenes away from the spotlight of the carnival bright lights.

As he will commence his own training career with a humble crop of gallopers compared to the Archibalds high-priced lot, those factors will be key as he builds out his own team at Eagle Farm.

“Being up in Queensland already for four years, it certainly helps a lot,” Pollard said.

“You've got to figure out the tracks, the jockeys, even the training tracks in the morning. So, because I've been here for a while, I understand it all. 

“I understand the programming, the benchmark, the different configurations of the track and what sort of horses suit where. 

“So, I feel like I've got a good grasp on that. We've had plenty of horse's race through Annabel and Rob up here, so I've got a good understanding.

“It's now exciting to be doing all the thinking myself for the horses and hopefully place them in the right races, wherever they suit best.”

The 31-year-old Pollard was always destined to train in his own right. 

It was just a matter of when for the respected horseman.

He is a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

He spent five-and-a-half years under the watch of the Archibald camp, with the last four being the stable's assistant trainer at Eagle Farm.

In many ways, he follows in the footsteps of his former boss, Annabel Archibald.

Annabel was Ciaron Maher's right-hand before launching her own training career. 

She has gone on to great things and won multiple Group 1 events around Australia.

Pollard is starting out with a small group of horses and hopes he can find a Zaaki, like Annabel did in the early stages of her training tenure, to lift his name into the spotlight.

“It's always what I've wanted to do, to have the name in the race book,” he said.

“That's what I've always worked for since a young age, when I was still at high school. So, I'm just looking forward to getting to the racetrack now.

“It's a few weeks of building up towards it and getting the horses ready to get fit and trial and everything. There's no rush.

“I'm also chomping at the bit to get back to the races too. Training's always been a goal of mine, it's what I've always wanted to do in life.

“So, it wasn't a matter of if, it's a matter of when I was going to do it.  I am finally at that stage now.”

Zaaki was the headline grabber from Pollard’s time leading the Archibald team in Queensland.

But, there was also memorable moments with star horses such as Mo'unga, Bois D’Argent, Numerian and Bosustow, among others.

“I feel like I've served a good long apprenticeship and certainly worked for the right people,” he said.

“It was awesome working for Annabel, I was with her for five years and then with Rob when he came into the partnership, as well.

“I was lucky, I started off down in Sydney, got to work with some pretty nice horses down there, horses like Zaki and Mo'unga, and then after a year-and-a-bit, I came to Queensland.

“That was my chance to jump, get up to Queensland and have a bit more autonomy in my work.

“It was as close as you could be to being a trainer without officially having your name in the book.”

The rookie trainer has been busy at the recent sales offerings at the Gold Coast and back home in his native New Zealand as he builds out his team.

In his new training venture, the Brisbane Racing Club has handed Pollard 20 boxes at Eagle Farm.

Former Archibald galloper Midnight In Tokyo has followed Pollard to his new team and will be an early stable star for the young trainer.

Midnight In Tokyo won twice at Listed level in the back end of 2025 and will be super competitive quickly for Pollard.

He has also picked up Ikasara, who was previously prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in Sydney.

“I have been fortunate enough to have a few horses come with me from Annabel’s, probably Midnight In Tokyo is a standout,” Pollard said.

“She's a very handy mare and that was one of the more special wins when she finally broke through to win black-type over the summer carnival. 

“She ended up winning back-to-back Listed races there, so she's the sort of the horse that I'm really excited to get into the stable.

“She won't be racing until May. Ikasara, I think, he will be my first runner.

“I bought him online; he's a handy horse in his younger days.

“If we can find the right race for him, he should be well placed up here in Queensland to hopefully win pretty quickly.”