Latest Career Milestone Looms For Neasham

Annabel Neasham has made a flying start to her training career and she is hoping to continue that momentum with her first juvenile runners.

Neasham took out her trainers’ licence at the start of the season after a successful stint running the Sydney arm of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace‘s operation.

Her first three runners as a trainer in her own right were winners and from only four more starters, she has produced three placegetters.

“Those first three winners were satisfying. It was going to end at some stage but the rest of them have been running well,” Neasham said.

“I’m really enjoying it. The job with Ciaron was a good transition into it because I was in charge of a larger stable than what I’ve got at the moment, but the numbers are building nicely.”

A career milestone beckons this weekend when Neasham will have her first Saturday runners in two cities, filly Jessica Rabbit in Sydney and Ghostwriter in Brisbane.

During Neasham’s time with Maher and Eustace, the Sydney stable was packed with young horses and she played an important role in preparing several of them for big-race wins, including Away Game and Prague.

It helped her earn the respect of prominent owners Aquis, who have entrusted her with several well-bred juveniles, including the two competing this weekend.

Ghostwriter has been scratched from Randwick after drawing the outside gate and will run at Doomben as Neasham looks to build his prize money towards the Magic Millions.

A $250,000 yearling from the family of Group One winners Oohood and King’s Legacy, Jessica Rabbit will fly the flag in Sydney.

At her only trial, the filly was beaten for early speed but made ground for third to Mura Mura, who will be among her rivals in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Randwick with Tommy Berry to ride.

“(Jockey) Rachel King worked her Tuesday and she did a lovely piece of work. Rachel thought she was ready to take to the races,” Neasham said.

“I’m really excited and hopefully she can run top three.

“If they go quick you might see her running over the top of them.”

Neasham has 32 horses in work and picked up another four at this week’s Ready To Run sale, including a Press Statement colt who particularly impressed her.