James Ponsonby’s progress in just over two years as a thoroughbred trainer hasn’t gone unnoticed. The 39 year old spent nineteen successful years as a trainer and driver of harness horses, prior to switching codes in 2017 - a dream he’d been nurturing for several years. Before even contemplating a solo career he sought an opportunity to work for a thoroughly experienced thoroughbred tutor. He had the good fortune to link up with the highly regarded Mark Newnham who was running a dual stable operation at the time.
James spent two rewarding years managing Mark’s 36 horse Warwick Farm stable. Newnham regularly commuted between his Randwick and Warwick Farm stables giving James the opportunity to spend time with the former jockey who was already well on his way as a commercial trainer. “Not only is Mark a complete horseman, but he can plan a horse’s preparation to the finest detail,” said Ponsonby. “From the day a horse begins a new campaign, he knows where it’s heading and how it’s going to get there. My two years with Mark was an invaluable experience.”
Trainer and driver James Ponsonby in one of seven wins behind Novak not long before his departure to the thoroughbred industry - courtesy Club Menangle.
The young horseman decided to venture into unknown waters when he was offered the use of a 113 hectare property at The Oaks near Camden. “It was formerly an Arabian Stud featuring spacious paddocks and a huge undercover arena which allows us to work horses in the worst of weather,” says James. “We’ve also developed a straight gallop which was originally a 1400m stretch, but by installing an “S” bend we can now work over a mile. We also have the use of an 800m circular track. Another big plus is the availability of several bushland walking tracks, which are of benefit to nervy, highly strung horses. When you combine all four facilities we’re able to give horses a very good foundation.”
The Oaks is not a place where work riders proliferate, and at 190cm in height James Ponsonby is an unlikely looking jockey. He has however been a competent rider from early childhood and is able to handle the bulk of his trackwork requirements. “Because they’re not galloping at speed my weight is of little consequence,” says James. “It allows me to get to know the idiosyncrasies of every horse in the stable. Simply spending extra time with a horse can make a big difference.”
This was the environment into which Saturday’s TAB Highway winner Socrates was inducted after being purchased by James from the highly popular Inglis Digital Sale in 2020. Horses like Socrates are the principal reason for the spectacular growth of the online auction which began modestly in May of 2017 with one sale per month. The auction went bi-monthly in August of 2019, and in April of this year established a world record gross of $10.7 million - a figure bolstered by Arrowfield and Hudson Conway broodmare reductions. The average number of lots per catalogue recently attained a figure of 343 horses.
Despite a height of 190cms, James is capable work rider - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
James is one of many Australian trainers who anxiously await the twice monthly catalogues to appear online. The job requires the identification of the right kind of tried horse and many hours of research. The availability of barrier trial and race replays is a luxury old time trainers could never have imagined. James established that Socrates had been purchased at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for a tidy $300,000 which indicated the colt’s pedigree and conformation were up to scratch. He quickly discovered that the son of Tavistock had raced ten times for the John O’Shea stable and had actually contested the 2020 Spring Champion Stakes in which he finished out of a place behind Montefilia. “He’d won a 1600m maiden at Kembla so dominantly at his previous start that connections decided to have a throw at the stumps in the Gr 1,” said James.
“Socrates had six more runs in the Champion Thoroughbred colours for a couple of minor placings and was off the scene for several months after the first three outings. His breathing was obviously a concern at the time, and it was decided to give him the “tie back” surgery. Following three more average runs he suddenly popped up in the Inglis Digital catalogue. We secured him for just $19,000 as a lightly raced four year old who’d already contested a Gr 1 race. He was a good risk at that kind of money.”
James quickly put together a syndicate of five owners who are enjoying every moment of the ride. His wife Keryn retained a share and was joined by popular Sky Racing presenter Andrew Martin. A long time racing devotee Andrew is best known as head anchor on the busy Saturday afternoon Sky 1 telecast. He invited friends Jeremy and Richard Gibb to participate, while the final share went to Sydney radio veteran John Stanley - a keen sports fan with a special liking for the sport of kings. Currently attracting impressive ratings on 2GB’s evening programme, John Stanley is a true evergreen in the ferociously competitive Sydney radio market. To use an ancient colloquialism, the syndicate members “have hardly put a hand in their pockets” since Socrates began his new career.
Another Inglis Digital bargain! Socrates has repaid his $19,000 price tag many times over - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
“It hasn’t been all beer and skittles,” says James. “He raced indifferently in his first seven starts for us. He was placed three times but it was obvious there was a little bit of sook about him. I decided to try a method the old time trotting trainers used to talk about. When horses have known nothing but stable life with all the accompanying pampering, they sometimes forget how to be horses. I threw him into a big paddock with six others and forgot about him for several weeks. Obviously you’ve got to risk the chance of injury, but you could tell he was enjoying it. I saw him get “bashed up” once or twice, but I believe it was the making of him.”
Socrates came back into racing on the burly side and took two runs to regain fitness. He was unplaced, but not far away in TAB Highways at Randwick and Rosehill, before James found the perfect race for him at idyllic Tuncurry Forster on the mid north coast. Winona Costin was the jockey in a 2100m Cl 1/Maiden on a Heavy 10 track which presented no fears. Socrates led for the first half of the race before being headed off by Razh at the 1000m. The five year old assumed control again on the corner, and strolled away to win by a widening 4 lengths. His attitude was positive and his trainer sensed the unorthodox spelling tactics had worked wonders.
James decided not to run the gelding for a full month. He also decided on a 2KG claim for in form apprentice Dylan Gibbons when Socrates stepped up to a Cl 3 TAB Highway over the Randwick mile. He crossed easily from a wide gate to lead on the first turn and looked a happy horse as he bowled along in the Heavy 10 conditions. Socrates had 2.6 lengths to spare in beating the consistent King of Spades with Jalmari third.
James stepped him up slightly in distance to the 1800m on Saturday. Track conditions were much improved at a Soft 6 rating, and jockey Dylan Gibbons was celebrating his 21st birthday. It was decided to ride the son of Tavistock a little more quietly over the longer trip. He raced in the box seat behind leaders King Of Spades and Sassy Choice to the turn. It appeared Gibbons was hoping to go between the leaders on the rise, but changed his mind when the opening diminished. He lost momentum slightly when held up for a few strides but quickly regained focus. Socrates was gallant to the line in defeating King Of Spades and Leather Jacket Lew. Three on the trot for a horse who’s found a new zone. The immediate plan is to run him in a Class 4 over 2100m at Hawkesbury on November 3rd, before a tilt at the Country Classic (2000m) at Rosehill just over three weeks later.
Ponsonby is also planning a race schedule for another of his Inglis Digital purchases Philipsburg, who was originally a $110,000 purchase by Aquis at the 2019 Karaka Sale. He was actually broken in and educated in NZ and began his career at Ellerslie where he was unplaced in a 2YO event before being shipped to Queensland. Four mediocre barrier trial performances saw him listed in the late October Digital Auction, from which he was snapped up by James Ponsonby for $20,000. The Per Incanto gelding has now had 27 starts for 6 wins and 8 placings for a handy $310,000. His wins include BM 72’s at Rosehill and Canterbury and a TAB Highway at a metropolitan Kembla Saturday meeting. His third placing behind Mahagoni at Randwick on Saturday indicates he’s right on track for the Little Dance on Melbourne Cup day. “I’m hoping he runs well enough to come under notice for The Gong at Kembla on November 19th,’ said James.
Inglis Digital graduate Philipsburg (Rachel King) wins his TAB Highway at a Kembla metro meeting - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The thing James likes most of all about his training life on the farm is the amount of time he’s able to spend with his four young children. “To work a team of twelve harness horses by myself took most of the day, and most weeks I’d be at two night meetings,” said James. “Sadly, family came second in those years. Now I’m at home other than race days, and the kids are around me most of the time. My eldest son Henry is now 10 and actually rides a fair bit of slow work. He’s an absolute natural. Sebastian (8) seems to be following suit, while Victoria (6) is on the pony most days and is shaping up well. Too soon to tell just yet which way little Lucy (3) will go. My wife Keryn has returned to her former trade as a teacher three days a week at the nearby Mawarra Public School. She also handles all of the administration work for the business and is a self-appointed “chief feeding officer”. She approaches the stable feeding regime very scientifically and won’t let me participate. She thinks I’m too heavy handed with the feed dipper.”
The Ponsonby family after a Menangle win with Majors Blue Jean. James with wife Keryn, Henry, Sebastian, and Victoria. Lucy hadn't come into the world at the time - courtesy Club Menangle.
The Sky Racing “closeups” seconds after Socrates had gone past the post showed very contrasting emotions. James kept the lid on what must have been an enormous thrill - a Randwick double in fourteen days with a $19,000 digital purchase. The trainer’s parents John and Jenny made the trip from Young where they are now in retirement. Both were very animated, especially John whose grin wasn’t unlike the famous Luna Park entrance way.
Young Henry Ponsoby introduced a spectacular round arm victory salute which will become his trademark as the winners roll in. And James Ponsonby joins a small but select group of trotting horsemen who’ve been able to transfer their special gifts to the training of a breed that needs to be treated with kid gloves. James has it down to a fine art.
(Banner image - Socrates makes it two TAB Highways a fortnight apart - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)