Madame Cody on Queensland Oaks path

By Jordan Gerrans

As a captain in the Australian Army, Cameron H Richardson was drilled on discipline, routine and structure.

Now making his way as a racehorse trainer on the Darling Downs of Queensland, those same principles are key to the way he prepares his growing team of gallopers.

The 41-year-old has enjoyed significant success in his short time as a full-time trainer with top horses such as Zuma California and Pope Cody previously under his watch.

Zuma California (retired) and Pope Cody (sold to Hong Kong) have both since moved on from his Toowoomba yard, but Richardson has high hopes for a close relation of Pope Cody as he looks into the 2026 Queensland Racing Carnival.

Madame Cody only has one victory on her resume so far, but the son of long-time Darling Downs trainer Harry Richardson believes she has Queensland Oaks written all over her.

The bay filly takes her first step towards the Oaks this week. She will head towards the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1700 metres at Ipswich on Thursday.

Madame Cody was also accepted for the Listed Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday over 1600 metres but has since been scratched. 

Just as he did in his Army days, Richardson uses discipline and routine with all his horses, especially a three-year-old youngster such as Madame Cody.

“I find that horses thrive on routine,” he said.

“So, that's probably the one thing I take from my days in the Defence Force. 

"It is about just being very particular on what you do and don't try to take any shortcuts.

“Shortcuts will only bring you undone, so that's probably the main thing I've taken out of it.”

Richardson entered the Army when he was 27 and stepped away in 2022.

He still does a couple of days work a week as a reservist, which he says will eventually wind down at some point this year.

The horseman made life-long bonds when he climbed the ladder to be a captain in the Army and has even picked up a few of his former mates as owners in his racing barn.

“It's been a different lifestyle, definitely,” he said when asked about his recent vocations.

“I have gone from getting told what to do, then getting up and doing the early mornings by yourself and having your own discipline.

“I enjoy it, I enjoy being around the horses. It's good to be back working with Mum or Dad. Mum helps out a lot as well, so that's been really good.

“It's been a step back from the lifestyle that I've previously had while I was in the Defence Force, but I'm really enjoying it.

“I still keep in contact with a few of the guys so that's been good.”

Madame Cody warmed up for her 2026 winter campaign with a Deagon trial triumph earlier this month over 1200 metres with Emily Lang steering.

Madame Cody broke maiden ranks at Ipswich in January at her third career attempt before putting in two credible efforts on a Saturday in town. 

The three-year-old filly is the half-sister to Richardson’s former stable star Pope Cody who won three of his first five efforts before being sold to Hong Kong.

While obviously disappointed to lose a classy galloper in Pope Cody, Richardson thinks Madame Cody may be able to fill the void and plans to step her up to feature company. 

“She's really come on from the last prep,” Richardson said in regard to Pope Cody.

“The last prep was kind of her initial prep due to a few setbacks along the way. The trial this month really showed that she's come back in good condition.

“Earlier, she was a typical filly, she was a bit temperamental and she had a few bad habits.

“She was not the greatest doer in the stables, but she's come back in this time much better in the feed tin and physically she's really matured and filled out.”

While Richardson has only been training since the 2020-21 term, he has quickly become a trainer on the rise. 

Retired stable star Zuma California won in town on several occasions while Pope Cody blitzed the Magic Millions Toowoomba Guineas field in September of 2024 before being purchased by overseas interests.

Pope Cody had won on three occasions from five attempts for Richardson when he was eventually sold.

While the emerging trainer never saw the best of Pope Cody, he is hopeful Madame Cody can also make her mark. 

“We're very much hoping that she's a staying filly,” he said.

“Her grand-dam (Vitesse Dane) was a Queensland Oaks winner and she's definitely in that mould. 

“She's a lean, athletic filly and it seems like she can sustain quite a long run.

“Everything says in a pedigree that the staying trip is where she is and where she needs to be.

"Everything out of the family has always stayed, so definitely that looks like her future. 

“Pope Cody is very similar to her in the aspects that they're looking for that staying trip. They do have different racing styles and different mannerisms. 

“He's probably more of a class horse than she is, but saying that, she's quite tough and she does stick on and she will stay.”

Madame Cody is likely to follow a typical Oaks path during the carnival, heading to the Gold Coast Bracelet in May, followed by The Roses before the Group 1 over 2200 metres. 

Richardson also prepares Play It For Cody who is the next youngster from broodmare Smurf Cody. 

The two-year-old filly trialled for the first time in March.