Pollard chasing more success after dream start

By Glenn Davis

When Todd Pollard rolled the dice and walked away from working for Annabel and Rob Archibald's Eagle Farm stable, little did he know how quickly he would land on his feet.

The Kiwi-born Pollard was quick off the starting block, training winners and emerging as one of Brisbane’s rising young talents.

Pollard has enjoyed a dream start to his six-month training career, winning black-type races with Midnight In Tokyo in the Listed Hinkler Handicap and Zuleika in the Listed Tatt’s Gold Crown during the Queensland Racing Carnival.

Pollard admits he has been surprised by his success so early in his career, but remains hungry for more.

“It’s been good, but I never thought I’d ever start off like I have,” Pollard said.

The 32-year-old conditioner has 20 horses in work and is hoping for another career highlight when he heads to Sydney with Midnight In Tokyo at Randwick on Saturday.

Midnight In Tokyo will contest the Group 3 Show County over 1200 metres.

“I got a taste for racing in Sydney when I sent down All Kinds Of Folk when she won at Randwick last month,” Pollard said.

“The plan with Midnight In Tokyo is to run on Saturday and come home straight after it.

“There are some good options for her over the shorter courses down there and if she goes well, she’ll go back down in three weeks for the (Group 2) Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.”

Since beginning his training career, Pollard has enjoyed plenty of success with jockey Ben Thompson, who will make the trip to Sydney to ride the seven-year-old mare.

“Ben rode her when she won a barrier trial at Doomben recently and he’s ridden quite a few winners for me,” Pollard said.

Pollard is hopeful of a strong performance from Midnight In Tokyo, who will be having her first start since finishing 12th, beaten less than five lengths, behind Grahame Begg-trained mare Splash Back in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in June.

“She’s got some residual fitness left over from the winter carnival and she’s ready to go after trialling well,” he said.

“Hopefully, she’ll run well, as most of the better horses are going to the Group 1 at Randwick on the day.”

Pollard is hoping for some rain to improve Midnight In Tokyo’s chances of adding another feature race victory to his rapidly growing training resume.