Father-and-daughter team forged on stable ground
Tony, Maddy Sears in new racing venture
RACING: Maddy Sears was born into a racing family and has grown up on, and around horses.
And now, after successfully beginning her working life behind a desk, Maddy is ready to answer her true calling as she follows her father Tony into thoroughbred training.
The best part of her career move, Maddy says, is she’ll now never work a day in her life.
“It doesn’t feel like I work,” Maddy said this week.
“I come here every day and it feels like I don’t even have a job. I love it.
“They say love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life, and that’s basically how I feel.
“I loved my office job, I loved the people, but there is nothing like coming in and working with the race horses.”
Tony and Maddy last week became Queensland’s first official father-and-daughter training team as the trend towards trainer partnerships continues to grow across Australia.
Maddy is a national-level equestrian participant but thoroughbred training was not her first lifestyle choice.
“Not necessarily. I’ve always had my show horses and I was showjumping for a little bit,” Maddy said.
“But I was working in an office for a while and I got a bit stir crazy, so I said to mum (Leigh) and dad, can I work in the stables until I decided what I wanted to do.
“That was sort of the turning point.
“When I started that led me to where I am now and getting my trainer’s licence.
“Being in a partnership with dad kind of happened by surprise.
“It’s a bit of a mixture of emotions working with family. It’s not always the easiest.
“(But) Dad and I get along great and we work really well together.
“Over the years, I’ve learnt a lot from him. You never stop learning really and he picks up on things I do that he has never done before.
“I really like it. He’s a great person to learn from and I think it’s an absolute privilege to work alongside someone like my dad.
“He’s an incredible trainer. The success is there. The proof is in the results. I’m lucky he’s my dad and I’m lucky I’ve been given the opportunity I have.
“It is really hard work, but every day is different.”
Tony believes training partnerships are the way of the future but sharing the necessary bond with your partner is the key to their success.
“I wouldn’t go into partnership with anyone else,” Tony said.
“It would be a very difficult thing to do I think with someone outside of family.
“Working with Maddy is something I’m looking forward to.
“She could train in her own right if she wanted to.
“She is very smart, she has learnt well and she has a terrific work ethic.
“She will be very helpful with a lot of the additional stable stuff like communicating with owners.
“That is a big part of a training business now.”
‘‘ I THINK IT’S AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO WORK ALONGSIDE SOMEONE LIKE MY DAD. MADDY SEARS