Cover image courtesy of Seib Racing
Danielle Seib has established herself as one of New South Wales’ most promising young talents in the training ranks. Recording a strike rate of 15 per cent from a stable of only 28, she places her small team studiously, taking advantage of Racing NSW’s rich Highway incentives.
Sieb is the daughter of the late Lewis Seib, who passed away in 2017 and was a popular trainer from Muswellbrook. Lewis Sieb was involved in racing his whole life and was a key member of the Brian Mayfield-Smith stable. He ended Tommy Smith’s 33 consecutive Sydney Premierships, breaking Smith’s dominance over Sydney racing.
Lewis Seib | Image courtesy of Muswellbrook Race Club
Lewis Sieb left an indelible mark on his daughter, and Danielle Sieb credits her father for fostering her love of horses. She describes the relationship with her father as “incredibly close”.
“He was a real role model,” she said, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “A patient, humble man and an excellent horseman.”
Sieb’s earliest memories of falling in love with horses was when she was four years old at Mudgee races.
“I sat on the back of a racehorse named Black Pixie,” she said. “I was obsessed with them from that day on, and I harassed my parents for a year for riding lessons until they finally gave in. I started Pony Club and eventing from age five.”
“I sat on the back of a racehorse named Black Pixie. I was obsessed with them from that day on...” - Danielle Seib
Working at the renowned Arrowfield Stud, Seib engaged in everything from the preparation of yearlings and caretaking of the stud’s extensive broodmare population to pre-training and educating young thoroughbreds. A talented and competent rider, Sieb rode trackwork and in barrier trials while helping her father when he took out his own trainer’s licence. All were experiences that Seib credits with forging a successful training career.
Starting university in 2015 and studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education, Sieb had ambitions of completing a jockey’s apprenticeship after the completion of her studies. However, after losing her father in 2017, the apprenticeship ambition was put on hold. She took out her trainer’s licence and took responsibility for a team of eight.
Danielle Seib | Image courtesy of Seib Racing
Finishing her degree online after moving to Goulburn, Seib graduated from a Bachelor of Secondary Education with Honours in Science, majoring in Biology in 2020. She became a foreman for the popular Goulburn trainer Danny Williams for several months, while juggling building her own team on the side and teaching at Crookwell High School.
The Seib family owned Assault’N’Bathory (Murtajill) is credited as the horse that launched her training career. Seib trained the now retired 9-year-old gelding to five victories, including two Highway races at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick in 2019 and 2020.
Seib’s effervescent albeit humble personality quickly attracted the attention of Jason Abrahams’ Champion Thoroughbreds. That company’s Racing Manager, Emma Guymer, explained why Seib was a natural fit for them.
Assault’N’Bathory winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“We had been on the look-out for a suitable country trainer for quite some time, given the recent increases in prizemoney with the addition of country-boosted races,” she said. “We wanted to have an option for our horses that weren’t up to the metropolitan grade but were competitive at the provincial level.
“We noticed an interview on Sky Thoroughbred Central where Richard Callander interviewed Danielle between races at one of the Canterbury night meetings early last year. She impressed us in that interview and we kept an eye on her results that season.
“Danielle ended up having the second-best strike rate in NSW last season and we were very keen to send her a horse when the opportunity arose. That horse, in turn, was King Of Spades.”
King Of Spades (Xtravagant {NZ}) provided Seib with her first Highway winner for Champion Thoroughbreds when winning a $120,000 Highway at Royal Randwick on December 31. Smokeshow (Winning Rupert) and Amarantz (Animal Kingdom {USA}) would quickly follow, winning Highways at Royal Randwick on January 21 and February 11 for Seib and the Champion Thoroughbreds team.
King Of Spades winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Seib’s location of Goulburn was ideal when it came to a provincial base for the Champion Thoroughbreds horses.
“Goulburn is only two hours from the city, so our horses wouldn’t have to travel too far,” Guymer said. “And it is still close enough that our owners can access their horses for stable visits.”
Prompted as to why the Champion Thoroughbreds team felt Seib is having success with training its runners, Guymer answered; “Danielle has great attention to detail, she seems to understand each horse individually and what they need. In that sense she is a true horse person. She is not afraid to travel a horse, and therefore can place her horses very well. She has a great team around her, particularly with her partner Aaron, and it certainly reflects in their results.”
“Danielle (Seib) has great attention to detail, she seems to understand each horse individually and what they need. In that sense she is a true horse person.” - Emma Guymer
“Danielle is a fantastic communicator both during the week and on raceday, and our owners are thoroughly enjoying the experience with Seib Racing.”
Seib’s passion for training thoroughbreds and the clients that support her is evident.
“I love the buzz and enjoyment clients get from their horses, especially when their patience is rewarded,” she said. “We pride ourselves on great communication and attention to detail.”
“I love the buzz and enjoyment clients get from their horses, especially when their patience is rewarded. We pride ourselves on great communication and attention to detail.” - Danielle Seib
A prime example of patience turning into results at the Seib stables is Tudor Prince (All Too Hard). The now 7-year-old gelding came to Seib’s care with previous tendon injuries and a wind operation. Seib persevered and Tudor Prince has won a further four races in a row, including two midweek metropolitan races for his patient owners.
“I find it very rewarding to get a new horse into the stable and work with them closely. I ride a lot of my own work and my partner Aaron is the stable farrier,” Seib said. “I make them happy and confident and see them bring that attitude to raceday.”
With a stable of 28 horses and growing, Seib is upbeat about the potential of two 3-year-old geldings in her barn, Associate (Star Witness) and Stand In Line (NZ) (Tivaci).
Gallery: Some of Seib Racing's exciting 3-year-olds
“I think they can progress through Highway grade and into benchmark racing,” she said. “I also have a great crop of 2-year-olds by sires such as Deep Field, The Autumn Sun and Dark Angel that I’m excited about.”
Seib spoke with great enthusiasm about her recent 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, a yearling filly by Brutal (NZ), a son of O’Reilly (NZ), out of Exceed And Excel mare Exselva. She purchased this horse from the Manx Park draft for $90,000.
“She is a half-sister to a stakes winner from a real black-type family that has always sold well. I was a big fan of O’Reilly and I’m hopeful Brutal can do a similar job”.
The Brutal (NZ) x Exselva filly purchased by Danielle Seib at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
All in all, Danielle Seib is the quintessential girl that loves horses.
“They are intelligent, challenging and admirable athletes. I really love horses and their company,” she said.
