Lizzy Sainty grew up in Kildare and Lambourn, before moving to Chantilly after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a First in Classics and a solid grounding in racing from Ian Williams, for whom she rode out each morning. She also worked several breeze up seasons for the indomitable Malcolm Bastard. After seven years as assistant trainer to John Hammond in Chantilly, she then worked with bloodstock agent Rupert Pritchard-Gordon and at the French daily Jour de Galop. She is a freelance journalist and French representative for Ballylinch Stud.