Like a duck to water, Sears' incredible rise through the training ranks

Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

After an emotional and heartwarming triumph by Red Wave (Red Dazzler) in Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup, The Thoroughbred Report chatted with the five-year-old gelding’s co-trainer, Maddysen Sears, to learn more about the rising star of the training ranks.

Sears trains alongside her father, Tony Sears, they operate a successful stable in Toowoomba. Maddysen Sears admits that over the last few years, the stable has reached new heights.

The training operation enjoyed a fantastic winter carnival in their own backyard, highlighted by Red Wave’s victory in the Ipswich Cup. Additionally, stable star Yellow Brick (The Mission) and the consistent Steady Ready (Better Than Ready) won feature races in Queensland, underscoring the stable's success.

Dad proud of punch

Red Wave was sent out as a $20 chance in Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup, his odds likely affected by his unplaced run in the G3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm on a Heavy 10 track last start. However, a closer look at the son of Red Dazzler’s early form revealed a horse racing in consistent form.

With rising star Angela Jones in the saddle, the pair gallantly held off London Banker (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Encoder (Encryption) in the 2150-metre feature, to the cheers of an excited Sears.

Racing, especially winning, can stir a hurricane of emotions in people despite their level of involvement. For Maddysen Sears, the victory hit close to home.

“It was a real thrill. I had set Red Wave for that race in the carnival. So, for him to pull off his grand finale, it was very, very exciting,” Sears explained to TTR AusNZ.

Despite Tony Sears being listed as a co-trainer, it was “all Maddy (Sears),” as he told 7HorseRacing post-race.

Sears elaborated further, “He’s a very special horse to me. We’ve got a very long-standing relationship, so it was a bit of a fairy tale. It was very emotional for everyone. I think Dad (Tony) felt the emotion a lot because that horse (Red Wave) in particular is one I solely trained by myself.

“He has no input in what I do with him. So, for me to pull it off, it was a lot. And honestly, I haven’t ever seen Dad that emotional after winning a race. It’s really hard to describe the feeling, but it certainly was a nice one.”

Yellow back to gold

Earlier in the Queensland racing carnival, the Sears-trained Yellow Brick (The Mission) showed he was back on track with a comfortable victory in the Listed Spear Chief H. at Eagle Farm. On the same day, Steady Ready earned a well-deserved breakthrough in the Listed Lightning S.

Regarding Yellow Brick’s return to form, Sears said, “It was a big weight off our shoulders. Obviously, things sort of went pear-shaped last preparation.

“Dad and I have always had full faith in the horse since he’s come back in that he has gone to the next level. We believe he’s just been unfortunate that he’s hit those wet tracks. So, it was very exciting and very nice to see him win like that.

Also, to hear the post-race comments from James McDonald sort of cemented what we already thought of the horse.”

The racing bug

Despite growing up with a horse trainer father, Maddysen Sears initially followed a different path, forging a promising and well-paying career in media. However, an unexpected life event shifted her perspective, leaving her unfulfilled.

Seeking comfort and a new direction, she turned to her parents, Tony and Leigh, and asked if she could help out at the stables while she figured out her next steps. In doing so, Sears discovered her true calling, taking to training like a duck to water.

Sears explained to TTR AusNZ, “I was in the field of media and publishing with News Corp and News Regional Media, doing all the master builder publications; it was totally different from what I do now.

“The training career and partnership with Dad was something that almost happened overnight, really. I had a very good job and I enjoyed it, but I had something happen in my life and I was in a pretty dark place mentally.

“I was just kind of going a bit crazy sitting at a desk, and it was really quite bad for my mental health. So, I said to my Mum and Dad, ‘Can I just come and work at the stables until I work out what I want to do?’

“I never looked back. It was a very pivotal point in my life. Mum and Dad gave me a couple of mares, a two-year-old, and an older horse to have a bit of a play around with. It was great and something I just fell straight into.

“I find the training side of things with horses comes quite naturally to me. I guess you could say it’s easy, but I’ve sort of been like a duck to water with it, and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

“It’s definitely what I’m meant to be doing with my life. I really don’t see what I do as a job; I see it as my lifestyle and my passion.”

Sears' journey from media professional to successful horse trainer underscores her resilience and passion, proving that sometimes, the most fulfilling paths are the ones we least expect to take.

Day in the life as a trainer

Sears shared her typical day as a horse trainer, one of the most promising in Queensland and arguably in Australia.

“Pretty cruisy really. I wake up about a quarter past three. I get to the stables anywhere between half-past three and quarter past four, depending on how cold it is and how quickly I can get mobile, really.

“And now I have started riding for the last couple of months. So, I do a couple of things when I first get to the stable and then I ride between five to seven horses each morning. I get home and do a bit of admin work and chill for a little bit and then head back to the stables in the afternoon.

“Dad and I are very hands-on. We’re both there every morning and afternoon. If you’re not there and have your eyes on everything, that’s how things get missed. It’s how Dad and I have shaped our business.”

Looking ahead

With 2-year-old trials on our doorstep and the next generation of juveniles set to hit the track in the coming months, Sears is excited and particularly pleased with two of the stable's recent acquisitions.

“We’ve had a bit of a quiet year from a buying perspective, but in saying that, we’ve got 24 juveniles lined up for next season.

“I’d say probably my two favourites we’ve bought are the Too Darn Hot colt from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and a Cosmic Force filly we purchased from the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.

“They are really, really exceptional yearlings that we’ve bought. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty more in our 24 that are really nice, but they’re the two favourites from what we’ve bought this year.”

The Too Darn Hot (GB) colt was purchased for $80,000 by Sears Racing alongside Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman from the draft of Riversdale at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

The colt is the first foal from the German-bred So You Think (NZ) mare Albertville (Ger), who won three races and was twice placed in Listed company. Meanwhile, the trio teamed up to pay $70,000 for the Cosmic Force filly from the draft of Tullyard at the 2024 Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Cosmic Force is the second foal from the winning So You Think (NZ) mare Baumgartner Miss. She hails from the family of the G3 DC McKay S. winner Outlandish Lad (Fantastic Light {USA}).

The Sears stable will be absent from action on Saturday’s G1 Tattersall’s Tiara Day, enjoying a well-deserved weekend off. However, they will be back in full force at Sunshine Coast Cup Day the following weekend.

“We’ve actually got nothing racing this coming Saturday. I’m having a weekend off and heading away. But the following weekend, we’ve got a pretty big Sunshine Coast Cup Day. We’ll have Yellow Brick, Steady Ready, Sinawann, and a couple of other really nice horses that we’ve got will be running.”

New season, new goals

Sears is ambitious, passionate, and a quick learner, embodying all the qualities needed to make a significant impact in the racing industry. Already looking ahead to the upcoming season, Sears outlined her aspirations, inspirations, and valuable insights.

With unfinished business in Sydney, Sears is eager to return to the Harbour City. Additionally, there's potential for a venture to Melbourne, possibly with Steady Ready.

“We’ve got a few races in Sydney earmarked for Yellow Brick, and depending on how Steady Ready performs in the 1000-metre race on Sunshine Cup Day, we’re considering trying our luck in some of those 1000-metre races down in Melbourne.

“So, we’ve got a few things in the pipeline. Probably the biggest goal I’d love to achieve in the next 12 months is that Group 1 win. That’s my major focus for the upcoming year; our stable has really stepped up over the last two years and I want to keep that upward momentum.”

Like many in the industry, Sears has a deep love for horses, evident in her affectionate interactions with them when they return from racing. However, she also faces frustration with misconceptions about horse racing, especially from uninformed critics.

“That’s something that really frustrates me. When people claim that racehorses are discarded or mistreated after their racing careers. It’s completely opposite for us. My horses are looked after better than I am!

“They’re elite athletes, and they receive top-notch care.”

Despite being the daughter of a trainer, Sears had to learn the ropes like anyone else entering the industry. Certain principles have proven invaluable to her success.

“One thing I emphasise nearly every day is that you never stop learning. I absorb everything that people tell me. Even if I don’t immediately use their advice, you never know when it might come in handy! I’m like a sponge, soaking it up what people say.

“My biggest inspiration is Gai Waterhouse; I aspire to be like her. I think she’s simply the most person incredible in racing. But the key in racing, and in life, is continuous learning.

“Another crucial lesson in racing is patience. It’s something you can’t have too much of. Bart Cummings preached it, and it’s become a mantra for me.

“Patience truly is a virtue.”