FEATURE
LEIGH ALLEN Media and Owner Communications
JACK TURNBULL National Assistant Trainer
Allen is the voice of the stable to the outside world. He manages the relationship between CMR and its owners. This is from micro-shareholders to major clients, while also overseeing the stable’s media presence and representing CMR at race meetings. “I handle owner communications and help out with training alongside Jack [National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull], and I’m also a stable representative at the races.
Turnbull is the logistical engine of the operation, responsible for ensuring the right horse is at the right place at the right time. His week takes him across CMR’s three main Victorian bases and his eye is always on the broader picture. “My working week is a mixture of Cranbourne, Ballarat and Fingal. I look at where horses are placed, whether our locations need to be filled or reduced, depending on the climate, the conditions, and whether horses could be racing in Victoria, NSW or Queensland. “I get to look at the bigger picture. This means making sure horses are coming in at the right time, are training at the right place, and that we’re getting the best out of them. “I work closely with the performance and analytical team. In a company as big as ours, planning is everything. We have good systems, always have the right people around us, and we educate people to get them to the right level. “I love it and consider myself lucky. You become self-motivated every day. You get to work with good stock and innovative systems. When you’re enjoying becoming part of something special with the team we have, it makes for a pretty cool place to be.”
“We have a lot of horses, all at different levels, so you need to be able to service an owner whether they have a micro share or are a major client. You have to treat everyone the same.”
“I look after our cameraman, who produces a lot of our media content – Instagram videos, YouTube videos and material for other platforms, but he’s quite autonomous. When owners talk to us, we try to talk to them as if they were talking to Ciaron.”
72 | 2026 OFFICIAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE
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