Sara Bradstock
“Sara has been an invaluable help in my preparation of my horses. She rides with skill and patience both at home and on the track which I know will prove to be a great advantage.”
David Elsworth
An experienced horse woman, Sara was successful in both show jumping and eventing before she turned her attentions to racing after a brief flirtation with academia at Oxford. Without access to strings of horses that she could ride as an amateur, she began her racing career working for Nick Gaselee and David Elsworth for seven years.
Early Career
Lord John Oaksey
(photo provided by Racing Post)
As the daughter of Lord Oaksey, the famous amateur jockey, journalist and Channel 4 racing pundit, and granddaughter of trainer “Ginger” Dennistoun, Sara has racing in her blood. Sara was a successful lady jockey and her ability to get the best out of tricky horses was rewarded with rides and numerous winners on the flat, over jumps and in point-to-points.
Following a bad fall that prevented Sara from riding competitively, several of her winners returned to mediocrity, which was a sure sign that Sara’s skills and expertise were a significant influence on the horse’s performance. It seemed like a natural progression for Sara to turn her attention to training and she joined forces with husband Mark in 1992.
Two horses that featured early in Mark and Sara’s yard was Montagnard and Mediane, both bought for very little because other yards had judged them to have poor prospects. They became Sara’s rides and were soon charmed into the winner’s enclosure much to the delight of all involved.
Training Success
Sara has worked in partnership with her husband Mark for over 20 years and together they have enjoyed much success buying, breeding, schooling and training National Hunt racehorses.
Sara is now carrying on the work she and Mark started, forging her own path while staying true to Mark’s approach and legacy. She has a completely hands on approach to running the yard, training and caring for the horses. She enjoys finding the key to what makes a horse content as well as identifying their will to win, whether it’s a physical or mental motive. Some of her career highlights include winning her first race under rules on Assured at Hereford, identifying the key to the diminutive and slightly sulky hurdler Watford Gap, who was never beaten under Sara’s expertise, and winning the Hennessy with Carruthers and not forgetting the Gold Cup with his little brother, Coneygree.
Sara works closely with Lily Bradstock on all aspects of each horse’s care including riding each horse, assessing from the saddle, and organises the schooling both over poles and traditional hurdles and fences. She oversees all of the exercise on the gallops and communicates with the support staff such as vets, farriers and physios, as well as the owners. She leads the development of each horse’s racing and exercise programme which are reviewed, sometimes daily, to ensure all relevant factors are taken into consideration.
No stone is left unturned when it comes to equine welfare and the proof of her and Mark’s dedication is clear with victories at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival as well as the Hennessy from a string of relatively inexpensive horses. To find out how we might help you achieve your ambitions please call us on 01235 760780
“What Mark and Sara don’t know about horses probably isn’t worth knowing! Their careful care of every horse in their Stables is obvious in how happy they are and their individual development. They are also good with new owners like me, patiently explaining everything and providing a lovely welcome every time I visit. I look forward to many more wins!”
Louise Burgess, current owner
