Racing gave the Sweeneys a reason to keep going

By Jordan Gerrans

Through the Sweeney family’s darkest days after tragically losing their first-born son Knox, two key things brought Toowoomba’s Troy and Alyssa closer together.

Firstly, their small team of horses.

And, secondly, that they had each other.

Almost a decade on from the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of Knox, the family are sharing their story as part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month this October, with the hope of shining light on the important issue.

Troy and Alyssa are now the proud parents of two happy and healthy children – Zahlia (five years of age) and Vance (three).

Zahlia and Vance know about their late older brother, with their parents often speaking openly about him.

“It was obviously hard,” Alyssa recalls about Knox’s death not long after his birth eight years ago.

“I think the horses helped us a lot through that time. We didn't have as many as we do now, only three or four, I think.

“But, still we had something that we had to get up for and try and keep going.

“Troy and I, I think we are stronger working together.”

All these years on, the Sweeney family are still in the dark about why Knox died suddenly.

He was born at 24 weeks and six days and after early optimism that he would survive, a brain scan at five days of age delivered a devastating update to the Sweeneys.

“I was at the Mater hospital for a week with a few complications in the pregnancy and then I had a placental abruption and he was born very early,” Alyssa details.

“Everything looked okay initially when he was born, but the brain scan wasn't good.

“He passed away at eight days old and obviously that was a very hard time for us. There were no warning signs or anything. They still have no reason for it.

“It was just a spontaneous thing that happened.”

Despite the painful loss of Knox, the Toowoomba co-trainers still had a team of horses to work in the days following.

While it was arduous in the moment, the Sweeneys’ team has grown significantly from their four in work back then to now having close to 20 in their stable, as well as a crop of horses spelling.

At this point, Troy and Alyssa seriously questioned whether they wanted to pursue another pregnancy following Knox’s death.

Eventually, they decided to give it another go, but in the back of their mind, they were always questioning if the unexpected loss was set to happen again.

“Zahlia was also born early at 34 weeks and Vance was born early, as well, not quite as early,” Alyssa said.

“It was pretty hard. You're not settled at all during the pregnancies. I had a lot of support through my family and I had some professional support, my obstetricians were excellent.

“They were reassuring and let me know it all looked good and everything was OK, which is what I needed to hear throughout the pregnancy with Zahlia.

“Just a lot of tests and making sure everything was right because I was high-risk because of Knox. 

“I had no real issues through those pregnancies and again, with Zahlia, there was no reason why they couldn't work out why I had her early, but she was.”

Zahlia and Vance were both born prematurely, but each returned home to Toowoomba with their family after a short stay in hospital.

“Zahlia needed to be in the nursery for two weeks, but she was not on breathing equipment or anything,” Alyssa said.

“It was just more to establish her feeding and once I took her home, I felt relieved to get her out of the hospital and that was a relief.

“With Vance, I was probably a little more settled, but you still never feel 100% until you have them safe in your arms.

“Vance is the only little one that I had straightaway in my arms and didn't have to go to the nursery.

“I got to take him home after a few days, which was beautiful and that was enough for me.

“That completed our family and we are just grateful we've got these two little ones.”

Despite the struggles, Troy believes they are a stronger family unit because of their experiences.

“It obviously is hard. A couple of kids and everything we went through with Knox eight years ago,” the horseman said.

“Alyssa’s family, her mum and dad, are a massive help to us with the kids when we have to go to the races or to work of a morning.

“My mum and dad are the same, as well. It is a pretty full-time job having two kids, let alone having 20 racehorses as well and a full-time shoeing business.

“It keeps us busy, but family, everyone seems to work together and it helps. That and a couple of staff members that are very important to us.

“The family there, everyone works in together.”

On the racing front, the Sweeneys boast their best strike-rate this season since they went into a training partnership and are on track to post the most winners of their careers in the 2026-27 campaign.

After everything they’ve been through, Alyssa says they are grateful every day, on the family front and at the track.

“For the two healthy ones that we have and for everything in life, I think,” she said.

“Just once you've had something bad like that happen with Knox and going through that, I think you appreciate things more and also don't let little things bother you anymore.

“That was just a major event that changed our lives.

“Now we can see it's made us stronger and more grateful for things.”

The Sweeneys have developed a close bond with fellow racing participants Lani and Anthony Allen, who lost their baby girl to stillbirth in December of 2023.

Zahlia and Vance have contrasting personalities, but they are best of mates and have been from day one.

The parents refer to Zahlia as their firecracker, while Vance is the calming influence of the Darling Downs clan.

“Zahlia loves the horses. She loves being at the stables and with the horses,” Alyssa said.

“Vance came to the races a lot when he was younger. He doesn't mind them, but probably not as much as Zahlia. She's very into the horses.

“With these little ones, you just appreciate every moment with them and they're just everything, that's your life.

“I think it's hard to say it makes you a better person, because it's a terrible experience, but I think in a way it does.

“They are both very sweet and kind, we are very proud of them.

“Zahlia and Vance have a beautiful relationship. They're very close and always have been, just the best of friends and they still are.

“It's beautiful to see their relationship.”

Click here to learn more about Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.