The Team

Growing up immersed in racing and breeding, horses have always been a big part of Tony’s life. His parents, Wayne and Vicki, were heavily involved in the thoroughbred industry and, until recently, owned and operated Longlands Stud in Cambridge.

Tony started riding trackwork from a young age and also grew up competing successfully in show jumping. Despite horses always being a constant, he initially took a different path, heading to Waikato University to complete a management degree before spending time working at New Zealand Bloodstock and later in an accounting office in Hamilton.

It didn’t take long to realise the office life wasn’t for him, and racing was always the industry he found himself coming back to. Tony spent time gaining experience in Australia, including working for Gai Waterhouse and travelling with horses around the country, before returning home to Cambridge and turning his attention to training.

Tony started out in 2000 with around 15 to 20 horses, made up largely of family-owned horses alongside a few outside clients. Without coming through the traditional training ranks, much of his approach was self-taught, built on years of riding trackwork, working with horses and learning what made each individual different.

From those early days, the stable has continued to grow. Horses such as Sacred Falls, Sacred Star, Sacred Elixir, The Bostonian and many more have provided some incredible moments both at home and across the Tasman.

More than 25 years on, we still train from the same Cambridge property where it all began. While plenty has changed over that time, Tony's approach remains much the same – keeping things straightforward, having a good team and giving each horse the best opportunity to reach its best potential.