Zilla Racing Stables Announces Strategic Addition to Bloodstock Program
(April 12, 2026)
Zilla Racing Stables is proud to announce the addition of former jockey and rising horseman Declan Carroll to our bloodstock efforts.
Declan comes from deep racing roots. He is the son of David Carroll, former trainer and current longtime assistant to Mark Casse, and he has been around horses and the racetrack from an early age. He began his riding career in 2018, earned his first career win at Keeneland that same year, and later retired from riding in 2024 to pursue the next chapter of his career in bloodstock.
What makes his background especially valuable in this role is the perspective he brings from the saddle. Evaluating 2-year-olds in training is about far more than simply reading a time on paper. It requires a trained eye for movement, efficiency, demeanor, rider-horse interaction, and the subtle clues that can reveal how naturally a breeze is unfolding and what a gallop-out may be saying afterward. Declan’s experience as a jockey gives him a unique ability to interpret those details with depth and nuance.
Over the course of working with him at the sale, we were also extremely impressed by the quality of his communication and the level of detail in his observations. From breeze analysis to in-person physical inspections, his work reflected the kind of thoroughness, horsemanship, and professionalism that we value highly at Zilla Racing Stables.
We are excited to work with someone who combines racetrack experience, horsemanship, sales exposure, fresh energy, and a modern approach to the game. We believe Declan is a strong fit for our program and look forward to building with him.
A Personal Observation from Zilla Racing Stables
After seeing Declan’s work firsthand throughout the breeze show, it became clear very quickly that we were dealing with a rare level of talent and detail.
While clocking horses on the backside, he was not simply recording times. He was thoroughly documenting what he saw in each performance, from the way a horse moved to the way the rider was asking the horse, handling the horse, and what those cues might be revealing.
Because of his background as a jockey, he was able to read into subtleties that many people would miss — including how naturally a horse was traveling, whether the effort appeared smooth or forced, and whether there were signs worth noting such as possible airway issues, discomfort, or other important indicators.
What stood out just as much was the clarity and consistency of the information he sent after each breeze show. Then, once he began inspecting horses in person for us, the depth of his evaluations became even more impressive. I have worked sales for many years and have had the opportunity to see a wide range of bloodstock agents, trainers, and evaluators operate in this environment. That gives me a strong basis for comparison.
For that reason, I say this with confidence: by the third day of the breeze show, I knew Declan was the right fit for us.
Learn More About Declan
• Apprentice-era feature video: “Declan Carroll living his dream as a jockey” 
• Career background and family racing roots 
• Retirement from riding and move into bloodstock