Meet the team

Resident Flat Jockey – Lemos De Souza

A champion apprentice in his native Brazil, Lemos soon looked to further his experiences in pastures new. Taking up post with Luca Cumani in Newmarket enabled Lemos to travel the world gaining racing experience in Dubai, Australia, Japan and America. Eight years after arriving in Great Britain he has become one of the very best work riders around and will be trusted with all gallops and stalls preparation. His expertise and knowledge ensures Lemos is an integral part of the team.

Fun Fact: If Lemos were not a jockey he would have liked to of been a farmer.

Favourite Horse: Mercian Prince

Favourite Race of the Year: The Cesarewitch Handicap

Resident Jump Jockey – Jack Quinlan

Jack needs little to no introduction to those who follow the National Hunt scene. With wins including the Sheffield Greyhound Stadium Mares’ Chase and Europe’s most valuable handicap hurdle; the Betfair Hurdle Grade 3 Handicap, to name a few. Jack describes his role at Amy Murphy Racing as ‘Number 1 Trotting Jockey’, dog walker and ‘meer passenger’ to the weapon known as Kalashnikov. He joined the ranks when Amy was just starting out and has been riding since just 3 years of age. Having a former trainer as a father, Jack has always been around racehorses and was often used as he describes as’ cheap labour’. He started his racing career in pony racing and after 3 successful years stepped up to point to pointing before he then made the move to become a conditional jockey for John Ferguson. To this day Jack has ridden over 80 winners and counting, with the best of his career still ahead of him.

Favourite Horse: Mercian Prince

Fun Fact: If Jack was not a jockey he would liked to have been a teacher at the British Racing School.

Favourite Racing Moment of All Time: Kalashnikovs 2018 Betfair Hurdle Win (For obvious reasons!).

Head Lad – Nick Hyde

Nick started his equestrian career with Tim Stockdale, and after 4 years he made the move to racing. Since then he has worked for a handful of Newmarket trainers, including the likes of Michael Wighan for 4 years and Luca Cumani in the role of both Head, and Traveling lad to name just a few. Over the years Nick has had a handful of rides as an amateur jockey and came 4^thin the Newmarket 2003 Town Plate. Nick is one of the most experienced members of our team holds a large wealth of general horse and racing knowledge, he acts as the first point of contact for the team for advise and queries.

Fun Fact: If Nick did not work in racing he would like to open his own pub.

Favourite Horse: Disciple

If Nick bought a racehorse he would call it: Follow Me.

Traveling Head Lad - Seamus O’Flaherty

Seamus previously worked in Ireland, a graduate from RACE, he rode as an exercise rider for Jim Bolger before achieving an apprenticeship with The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, where he rode for Tracy Collins as part of a placement scheme for the best part of the year. Seamus then made the move to England, where he spent nearly 3 years as an exercise rider to Luca Cumani, working alongside Amy. He joined the Amy Murphy Racing team as Travelling Head Lad in 2017 and to date has racked up a total mileage of 55,000 miles in the company horsebox alone. Seamus is a competent work rider and a greatly valued member of our team.

Favourite Horse: Another vote for Mercian Prince!

Fun Fact: Seamus boasts he can ride a unicycle but we are yet to test this theory.

Favourite Race of the Year: The Grand National

Racing Secretary – Sammy Buck

Sammy attended the Royal Agricultural Collage where she studied International Equine & Agricultural Business Management BSc. Having worked in the equine industry all of her life; Sammy joined the team with vast experience in both studs and yards here, and in Australia. This alongside her previous positions with bloodstock agents and her time at International Racehorse Transport UK (IRT) shipping horses to Australia & New Zealand made Sammy the ideal candidate when the position of Racing Secretary became available. Sammy has ridden all of her life and enjoys eventing and hunting her own horses outside of work.

Fun Fact: If Sammy were not in racing, she would like to work in Equine Rehab, as she dreamed of becoming a vet growing up.

Favourite Horse: Hawthorne Cottage

Favourite race of the year: The Mares Hurdle Cheltenham.

Office Assistant – Shannon Bishop

Shannon joins us on a placement year from Aston University, Birmingham where she studies Business and Politics BSc, and hopes to pursue a career in Bloodstock Insurance. Having lived local to Newmarket and ridden all of her life, Shannon has always admired racing from afar and jumped at the chance to learn about the sport right from its core. Shannon comes from a showing background, having competed in county level horse shows up and down the country, chasing Horse of the Year Show tickets for many years, with other highlights including qualifying & riding at the Royal International Horse Show twice. She is currently making the move to eventing.

Favourite Horses: Disciple & Well Smitten

If Shannon bought a racehorse she would call it: The Peaky Blinder

Yardman – Connor Fox

Connor grew up in the countryside surrounded by horses but didn't become involved in them until he attended the 2000 Guineas Festival in 2017, where he quickly fell in love with the sport of horseracing. He graduated from the BRS with a level 1 certificate in horse care and a Level 3 certificate in Racehorse transport earlier this year and is currently working to achieve his Level 2 in racehorse care and hopes to go on to achieve his level 3 soon after, with the long term aim of becoming a pupil assistant.

When asked what he would do if he wasn't in racing, Connor replied ‘Competitive eating all day long’ but longed to be a Power Ranger from an early age.

Favourite Horse: Espirit De Baileys

If Connor bought a racehorse he would you call it: NotAnotherHorse

Work Rider - Annie James

Annie came to us in late 2016 straight from the British Racing School, and was keen to learn and grow in her chosen career. With an already successful background in ponies, Annie had achieved junior unaffiliated dressage champion 2016 and qualified for national “Horseware” hunter trails 2016 and quickly transferred her riding skills to racehorses. Annie has become a bold and courageous rider who aspires to progress to a Head Girl or Traveling Head Lass Position (A scary thought for someone who currently struggles to reverse her Citroen C1!)

Annie says her favourite racing moment is when ‘Blessed to Empress’ enters the stalls!

Favourite Horse: Blessed to Empress

Favourite race of the Year: The Champion Chase

Favourite Stallion: Havana Gold

Work Rider - Ella Gresty

Ella comes from a horsey background having ponies as a child, before starting her career she studied hard for her A levels. Ella’s career in racing began at Ed Dunlop’s training establishment, where she rode for 2 years prior to joining the team in 2017, she is an excellent rider and another asset to the team. Ella’s infectious smile brightens everyone’s day.

Favourite Horse: Mercian King

If Ella bought a racehorse she would call it: ‘Boris the Animal’.

Work Rider – Minty Bloss

Minty came to us after an exciting spell at James Owen Racing, already boasting a successful pony-racing career with highlights including; winning the conditions final twice and having ridden 49 winners to date. Minty has previously had great success show jumping, having qualified for the Royal International Horse show in the past. Within the next few months, Minty aims to start working towards her Apprentice Jockey Licence, to progress into the next exciting chapter in her racing career.

Favourite Racing Moment Of All Time: When Josephine Gordon rode her 100^thwinner in a season

Favourite Horse: Thaquaffa

Work Rider – Eve Williamson

Eve learnt to ride in her hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana on hunters and jumpers and adapted her style to racehorses at the British Racing School alongside Connor. Since making the big move across the pond, Eve has become a fundamental part of our growing team. She’s become quite attached to her new home in Newmarket but still misses her dogs Fuscha & Lenny back home.

Fun Fact: If Eve was not in racing she says she would have chosen a career in nursing.

Favourite Horse: Islay Mist

Favourite Stallion: Galileo

Work Rider – Eddie Edge

Eddie joined us with almost half a decade of racing experience already under his belt. A British Racing School graduate, Eddie achieved his pony levels which earnt him a position at Ed Dunlop’s Training Establishment along side Ella, which played home to him for three and a half years. Before joining our ranks he made the move to Ireland where he worked a season for Gordon Elliot riding out such pedigrees as 2018 Grand National Winner Tiger roll.

Favourite Horse: Just Later

Fun Fact: Eddie has black belts in 3 different forms of Martial Arts.

Favourite Racing Moment of All Time: Frankie Dettori’s Big 7.

Part Time Work Rider – Alva Karlsson

Alva likes to ski and travel, but her biggest passion is of course horses, having started at just six years of age with mostly show jumping and dressage but spent a lot of her time racing ponies through the woods in Sweden, where Alva is from. Alva is very brave working away from home and also ventured as far as Australia for Gai Waterhouse, just like Amy has. This is where Alva really got a taste for racing and has not turned back since. She’s a tidy rider, keen and has a huge love for all the horses in the yard.

Favourite Horse: Sandkissed

Fun Fact: Alva has a special talent for solving Rubik cubes and growing up she dreamed of being a Dolphin trainer.