The busy Sweeney clan after breakthrough black-type win

By Jordan Gerrans

It is busy at the Sweeney stable at the best of times but it has been a little more hectic than usual of late.

The husband-and-wife training team of Alyssa and Troy Sweeney work their team of horses out of the Bahram training and spelling centre on the Darling Downs.

The Sweeneys have had two-year-old daughter Zahlia in tow around the stable for the last couple of years.

And, they have over the last two months welcomed Zahlia’s brother Vance into the world.

While it has been a busy period juggling the gallopers, the children and general life – it has of course been a treasured time for the family more than anything. 

While all this has been happening, the stable have their greatest opportunity yet to win a black-type race on Saturday afternoon in the Listed Queensland Cup with in-form stayer Ostermeier.

Speaking as she carries young Vance at her stable earlier this week, Alyssa says they thrive on the barn being a hive of activity with horses and the family.

“There is not many free moments but it is good, we like the busyness of it all,” Alyssa said.

“They are a part of it all, we try and keep them involved and they come over here to the stables.

“Zahlia loves them and likes to be on the horses, it might be time to get her a pony. They like being around the stables.”

After giving birth to Vance only seven weeks ago, Alyssa has been a little more ‘hands-off’ in the training partnership in recent weeks.

Troy – a former jockey – has therefore taken on more of the load, alongside their staff.

The Cunnamulla product rode nine winners as well as 17 place getters before he stepped away from race riding.

He spent a period of time living and riding around the Bathurst area south of the border, as well.

While Troy has had a long career in the sport, he has missed Alyssa’s guidance around their growing team of gallopers in recent weeks and described the period as ‘challenging’.

“She has been in racing a long time and is an excellent judge of a horse and knows when they are right,” Troy said.

“We sort of miss that a little bit right now but there is some technology now that she can use to get more of a guide to see if the horse is going well from home.

“It is good to have her here when she can be.

“We have good people around us helping us and we would not be able to do it without them at the moment.”

Alyssa’s parents are also heavily involved and live close to the Bahram centre, which is a big help to the team.

Alyssa trained in her own right before she went into a partnership with Troy.

The former jockey joined Alyssa’s team as a track work rider many years ago and as they say – the rest is history.

He still rides work for the stable.

To work full-time with your spouse can be tricky at times but the Sweeneys make it work.

“It can be challenging at times but it is mostly good as we work well together,” Alyssa said.

The team have eight city race wins on their resume so far and they will be out to break new ground on Saturday.

Stayer Ostermeier has accounted for a couple of those metropolitan victories and after two strong recent Saturday efforts, he gets his chance to nab a maiden black-type triumph for the yard.

Th gelding will be ridden by in-form apprentice Cejay Graham in the 2400 metre Queensland Cup.

Ostermeier is a last-start winner over 2412 metres and just went down at his start prior to that. 

Troy believes the cheap purchase – who goes by 'Lewis' at the Sweeney stables - is up to racing in black-type company.

As of Thursday afternoon, he is rated as a $31 chance by bookmakers.

Alyssa says it is exciting to have a contender in a Listed level race, which carries a purse of $160,000.

“His last win was pretty impressive, he got back in the field and he got home late, which is how he races,” Alyssa said.

“He will be down in the weights on Saturday, which is a bonus for him as he is only a little horse.

“He has come back really well this prep after having an off preparation the last time in.

“I think this kind of distance is right up his alley.”

As well as Ostermeier, the stable have Freakshake entered to race in maiden grade this coming Wednesday at Ipswich.