The Team

Faye started working for me in 2018 and is now my head girl. She is a hard worker and has also be studying to gain additional qualifications as a senior member of staff. Faye doesn’t ride the racehorses but is an excellent worker who is unfailingly cheerful and keeps the yard and the team in order! She bakes wonderful brownies and other treats for the team and her terrier, Rollo entertains us all – and beats all rivals as champion ball chaser.

Jamie joined the yard as my conditional jockey in March 2024 and soon tasted success by riding The Wise Traveller first past the post at Fakenham in April. As well as being a good rider, Jamie is very good with machinery and was able to help out with tractor work during the Summer. He spends evenings in one of our barns working on cars, replacing gear boxes and improving bodywork and impressing us all!

Skye has been with us for about two and a half years, after graduating from the British Racing School. She has been involved with horses for most of her life but developed a love of the racing industry and decided to focus on racing rather than going to university. As well as being a very valued member of the team, Skye has an extraordinary talent as an equine artist.

Tash has also worked for us for over two years. She has lots of experience, having worked in racing in Australia as well as in Britain, and is able to contribute to pretty much all of the yard’s requirements on and off the horses. As well as an Australian partner, she loves her dogs!

Shane joined the team in October 2024, having worked at a flat yard in Newmarket but having previously spent a year with a well-known National Hunt yard. He loves jump racing and is keen to get race-riding experience himself. His plan is to start in point to point races and we are keen to support him and to help him achieve his goals.

Niall also joined the team in October 2024, having completed his apprenticeship as an electrician – a very helpful skill! Although Niall has family connections with racing, he had not worked in the industry but came to me to learn about National Hunt racing and to learn to ride jumps horses. As can be seen from his profile photograph, he has learned quickly and had a great time on the Thurlow Hunt Ride. His riding has come on well and I am confident that he will continue to improve.

Giulia left her family home in the beautiful spa town of Montecatini Terme in Tuscany to come to England to work in the racing industry. After a few years at Shadwell, she was keen to work in a racing yard rather than a stud – her family have a history of training trotting horses and so racing is in her blood. Giulia is energetic and fun and is keen to get us all talking Italian! When not working, she loves to cook and has developed a passion for the “full English” breakfast!

Dr Belinda Rose is a great asset for me and the yard. As well as riding out whenever she can, Belinda is a very experienced equine vet and is always on hand to provide advice and support. Although we also use the excellent teams at Newmarket Equine Hospital and at Buffy Shirley-Beavan’s Summerhill Veterinary practice, it is very useful to have someone on hand and in the yard so regularly. Belinda has given her horses great rides in point to point races for the last two seasons and also won the prestigious Newmarket Town Plate in 2023 on her pointer, Dancing Shadow.

We are helped on some mornings by Brian Mayes, who also looks after the machinery and does general work on the farm (and has done so all his life, as did his father before him).

Ashley Holmes of ACH Farriery is another key member of the team and is on the yard twice a week.