Warren the Wonder Horseman

Cover image courtesy of the Thoroughbred Racing SA

With the Southern Hemisphere yearling sales season now well underway this time of year in racing and breeding is akin to when kids start school. After being sold at auction, thousands of young horses are marched off to expert horsemen to begin their journey to the racetrack.

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Astern – Sometimes, it’s that obvious.

For three decades Warren Sutton has been charged with this important responsibility for some of Australia’s biggest operations.

“Someone said to me recently, 'you are the teacher, the round yard is the classroom and they are your pupil',” said Warren.

Warren, 48, is Head Educator at McEvoy Mitchell Racing in South Australia. He’s had some seriously talented equine pupils under his tutelage over the years including the likes of Group 1 winners Hey Doc (Duporth), Sunlight (Zoustar), Nadeem and Barely A Moment.

Recently his first batch of babies arrived at the Angaston property to be broken in. The next six months are a peak time for many horse breakers.

As soon as horses walk off the transport truck the process starts for Warren. From the minute he first lays eyes on them he watches their every move to determine which of them might one day make a Group 1 star.

“Smart intelligent horses at this age need to shine through. I will get into them and know in a few days. They’ve got to have a good sense of intelligence and trainability. I will then see how it moves and physically copes a few weeks later.”

Warren leads a team of up to five people and spends four weeks laying education foundations into the horses.

“We usually have 25-30 horses at a time. They are at Angaston for orientation and then go in for some preparation on the racing side and return for a spell.

“Then they are on a month in, month out, rotation for a while.”

Each year up to 100 yearlings go through Warren’s system and he also assists the McEvoy Mitchell Racing business with horses that might have developed behavioural problems on the racetrack and what he describes as “hot fillies”.

“I think it’s about moulding these horses into being professional and to handle pressure and be the best they can be by setting up building blocks for success.

“I desensitise them and try and get them to become quiet, comfortable and confident horses that show length in their action.

“I like them to have good balance, control and flexion and relaxation and not just get on and go in a straight line and canter."

The vast majority of his Thoroughbred students conform and transition well into their trade.

“I’m continually amazed what we put them through. And, when they come out the other end I think, wow, how did you deal with that.

“Thoroughbreds are the most forgiving, sharp, smart and quick learning athletes,” he said.

A childhood passion

Warren, who grew up in Swan Hill has had a fascination for and deep love of horses since he was 10-years-old. Back in those childhood days, he used to jump the fence into the neighbouring horse property.

“I was so privileged that I could jump over the back fence where an old fella bred some pretty feral ponies. I annoyed the crap out of him as a kid.

“It was a no brainer of a career to go into,” he laughed.

Jockey Luke Nolen’s father Vincent also had a huge influence on Warren’s life with horses.

“Tal” as he was known around the traps was a trainer, former jockey and bull-rider.

“Luke Nolen’s dad is a very good horseman. I did bits and pieces with him at the track and property.

“He was a horse-breaker and instrumental for me to go forward.”

From there Warren went to Marcus Oldham College and then found the job of a lifetime and went to work for the late Colin Hayes.

“I always admired the system he used, he was my idol. I said to myself one day 'I am going to go and work for him', and so I did.”

That began a long and fruitful working relationship with the Hayes dynasty. He has fond memories of those days, particularly some of the iconic horses he trained including the dual Cox Plate (2040 metres) winner Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton).

“He was super intelligent. You could read him and he could almost talk to you like a human. I loved him.

“He was a super tough warrior and a really honest, reliable character to deal with. He was such a beautiful horse.”

During his time with Lindsay Park Racing Warren forged a strong relationship with Tony McEvoy.

Now he spends the first half of each year working solely for Tony and for the remaining six months he ventures to Thailand where he is engaged in various equestrian projects.

There he runs private behavioural horse clinics and also works closely with the Royal Thai Cavalry Unit, mounted police and delivers welfare lectures at veterinary students at universities throughout Bangkok.

More recently he’s worked with fellow Australian horseman Dr Andrew McLean and a team of behavioral scientists on the Human Elephant Learning Program.

“It’s a lifestyle choice. You are in the middle of the world there and I love travelling and meeting new people.”

Future plans

In his little spare time, Warren enjoys other pursuits with horses. In 2017 he rode in the Mongol Derby, the world’s longest and most gruelling horse race and managed a top-five finish.

“That was phenomenal. With the scope of it and the number of horses and the Mongol herders and the landscape it’s just mind-blowing. For some that compete, it’s either a concoction for disaster or great lifetime experience.”

Next month Warren will take on a new challenge and compete in the inaugural Gaucho Derby which, like the Mongol Derby, is a novel horse race staged by The Adventurists.

This time he will ride 500km over The Andes south of Patagonia.

“It’s not about speed and agility, it’s about navigation and survival. You set up camp, cook your own meals and there are checkpoints every 40km.

“Navigation is the key and one wrong move on top of some of those mountains and terrain is scary.

“There is a bit to watch out for such as mud sinkholes. You have to be really careful. There are no wolves like in Mongolia but there are panthers.”

Tony McEvoy has agreed to give Warren the required few weeks off work to go on the adventure and with the stable’s next Group 1 performer to unearth there will be much work to continue with when he safely returns home.

“Tony is great. He lets me do my job. He doesn't get involved or in the way of my program or technique and that’s the beauty of it. If someone has confidence and trust to do that job it makes you inspire even more. It’s a good experience to be working here,” he said.