J Richards

Jamie Richards is one of world racing’s most accomplished young trainers. At the helm of Te Akau Racing, he set a New Zealand record for wins in a single season with 160, beating the previous best of 143. He also set the record for Group and Listed Stakes wins in a season as well as a new record for Group 1 wins in a season (13). Richards started out as an amateur rider before completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Accounting as well as a diploma in Marketing which saw him earn a Sunline Scholarship, involving three 10-week stints abroad in Great Britain, Ireland and the United States of America. Through this he gained valuable experience working at leading stud farms around the world before returning to work for New Zealand Bloodstock and then Waikato Stud. Richards joined Te Akau Racing as their racing manager in 2014 and nearly 12 months later became a co-trainer alongside Steven Autridge. Together the pair enjoyed huge success before Richards took over in a solo capacity. In total at Te Akau Racing, Richards achieved 53 Group 1 wins during his record-breaking six-and-a-half-year tenure. Across his time at Te Akau Racing, Richards is renowned for his handling of talents like Melody Belle, Probabeel, Te Akau Shark, Xtravagant, Gingernuts and Avantage. He closed out his maiden season in Hong Kong with 35 wins. He saddled 27 winners during the 2025/26 campaign. In 2026 he saddled his 100th winner in Hong Kong with Jubilant Winner, a four-time winner that season. Achievements:New Zealand Champion Trainer (2015/16 [with Steven Autridge], 2019/20, 2020/21 & 2021/22). Notable Wins Include:New Zealand Derby (2017 Gingernuts), New Zealand Oaks (2021 Amarelinha, 2022 Belle En Rouge), Rosehill Guineas (2017 Gingernuts), Epsom Handicap (2020 Probabeel), Empire Rose Stakes (2019 Melody Belle), Futurity Stakes (2021 Probabeel), Surround Stakes (2020 Probabeel), Caulfield Stakes (2021 Probabeel), New Zealand 1000 Guineas (2015 Risque, 2020 Kahma Lass, 2021 The Perfect Pink), New Zealand 2000 Guineas (2015 Xtravagant, 2017 Embellish, 2021 Noverre), Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes (2016 Heroic Valour, 2018 Sword Of Osman, 2019 Yourdeel, 2020 Cool Aza Beel, 2021 Sword Of State), Railway Stakes (2021 Avantage, 2022 Entriviere), Telegraph Handicap (2020 & 2021 Avantage), Tarzino Trophy (2018 & 2019 Melody Belle), Windsor Park Plate (2018, 2019 & 2020 Melody Belle), New Zealand Stakes (2019 & 2021 Melody Belle, 2020 Avantage), Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (2017 Melody Belle, 2018 Avantage, 2019 Yourdeel, 2021 On The Bubbles), Waikato Sprint (2016 Xtravagant, 2019 Melody Belle, 2020 Te Akau Shark, 2021 Avantage), Spring Classic (2019 & 2020 Melody Belle, 2021 Savy Yong Blonk). Hong Kong Career Wins (at start of 2026/27 season):115 (win strike rate: 7.2%).