Teamwork the key for the Sweeneys
By Glenn Davis
Teamwork is the key behind any successful training partnership and Toowoomba’s Alyssa and Troy Sweeney are a prime example.
The husband-and-wife partnership has been a force on the Darlings Downs for the past eight years and is striking at 12 per cent this season.
The Sweeneys prepare a team of 16 at Toowoomba’s Barham Stud training facility and have notched up six winners from 51 starters this season.
They have also chalked up 12 wins from 110 starters over the past 12 months.
It’s a tough gig for any training partnership but especially for the Sweeneys who juggle the early morning training routine with parenting two young children, Zahlia, 4, and two-year-old Vance.
Troy was a former amateur jockey based at Bathurst in NSW, before he relocated to Toowoomba where he rode trackwork for Alyssa who is a daughter of former Toowoomba trainer Allan Ross.
Troy, who was a farrier by trade before turning to training, admits Alyssa has been the driving force behind their success.
“I was an amateur jockey when I was based at Bathurst before I moved back to Toowoomba about 11 years ago,” Troy said.
“I’m a Cunnamulla boy originally but I came back from NSW to be closer to my parents who live in Toowoomba.
“Alyssa is the main trainer as she’s a lot smarter than me when it comes to training.
“Alyssa’s dad Allan is a retired trainer and he still helps us out a lot around the stable.”
The Sweeneys head to Ipswich on Wednesday hopeful of adding to their season tally of winners with two starters.
Lady Zaydi lines up in the Benchmark 58 for fillies and mares over 1350 metres while Prucia starts in the Maiden Handicap over 800 metres.
The Sweeneys have booked jockey Angela Jones for their pair and believe both will be competitive in their respective races.
Lady Zaydi is a homebred who is raced in a syndicate of 12 which includes publican and former journalist and former Toowoomba Turf Club secretary Alan Volz.
“Alan has a few horses with us as does Sue Hammer who races Prucia,” Sweeney said.
Lady Zaydi has been placed in two of her past four starts and is coming off a last start fifth to the Paul Nolan-trained North Court in a 1300m Class Two at Toowoomba on November 22.
Prucia has had only two starts and has placed on both occasions including a last start third to the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Betta Being Single in a 1000m Class One at the Sunshine Coast on December 1.
“Lady Zaydi should race well and Prucia is out of a good mare and this looks a good race for her,” Sweeney said.
Prucia’s mother was Paradis Imperial won all bar one of her 10 victories in 31 starts in Rockhampton for trainer Tony McMahon.
