I unashamedly claim some of the credit for Sarah Rushbrook’s winning double at Tamworth Paceway last Thursday. It was her fourth driving double to date and took her to 45 career wins.
As the nostalgia kicked in, I was reminded of a visit Sarah made to my Ebenezer property in 2006. She was assisting Tamworth trainer Craig Clegg who had a couple of horses engaged at a Penrith meeting.
Her love affair with harness horses was only just beginning. She’d been working for Tamworth thoroughbred trainers Mark Mason and Tim Martin since early teens, but always had a fascination for the standardbred breed.
Her interest in harness horses had been fuelled since childhood by her father Mike, a former hobby trainer and a devout advocate of the trotting sport. Mike has struggled with indifferent health since suffering a major stroke in 2000. “Despite ongoing health issues, he watches everything on Sky Racing”, said Sarah. “He’s my greatest fan and my sternest critic”.
Sarah was 23 years old on the occasion of her visit to Ebenezer but had never sat behind a pacer. She actually asked me if she could jog a horse quietly in the cart before heading back to Tamworth.
Steady rain started to fall as Sarah and I took two horses onto the track with a 35 minute jogging session ahead of us. Her mount was Sheezamountaingirl, a lovely Harold Park mare I was training at the time. Luckily we’d taken the precaution of donning yellow plastic rain wear, because the rain got heavier by the minute.
Not only did the “rookie” driver look very much at home in the gig, but she was absolutely entranced by the experience.
Back home in Tamworth she pestered Craig Clegg and other local trainers to let her drive track work at the Tamworth Paceway. Before long she was pestering the same trainers for drives at the weekly trials.
It seemed an eternity before twenty five year old Sarah Rushbrook was finally licensed as a trainer and driver of standardbred horses. By now she was totally besotted with the sport and excited by the prospect of making a career of it.
Image courtesy PeterMac Photography Berling trained by Makayla Mitchell - the first leg of Sarah’s double last week.
She remains eternally grateful for the support she received from a special group of Tamworth horse people. “Craig Clegg was a massive support in the early days, while Andy Ison helped me with a number of trial drives”, says Sarah.
Her idol among the local female participants was unquestionably the experienced Sally Torrens who’d become a household name in the New England area. “Sally had been a highly successful trainer/driver and is an excellent horse person”, says Sarah. “She helped me enormously in those formative years”.
Harness racing is poorer for Sally’s changeover to the thoroughbred training ranks. Now based at Gunnedah she’s making her mark with horses like Swiftly Mango who won at Dubbo recently.
Tamworth trainer Ken Natty is not only a big help to Sarah in the preparation of her horses, but is an unabashed fan of her burgeoning talents. “Ken’s always there when I’m struggling to get them worked and has put many driving opportunities my way”, explained the trainer. I was delighted to win on Clancy Pants for him just recently”.
Sarah took an important step in 2007 when she purchased a seven year old gelding called Vinnie Blue Jeans from Sydney trainer Trevor Munday. “He was in my price range and Trevor assured me he was the ideal driving horse for a beginner like me”, recalled Sarah.
Two days after gaining her licence to drive in races, the young trotting devotee headed to Inverell with Vinnie for her all important maiden race drive. To make the occasion even more memorable she’d picked up a second drive from her staunch supporter Andy Ison. “I was pretty excited to run third on Vinnie”, she recalled. “I was over the moon when Guys Soul came from well back to win the last race. It was a dream come true”.
Image courtesy PeterMac Photography – There’s nothing like a winner!
Rushbrook and Vinnie became a well known combination on New England tracks right up until the gelding’s retirement as a rising twelve year old.
He’s now 19 and as healthy as a cricket. “He was a much loved pony club horse for a long time, before getting the sack because he was too quiet”, laughed Sarah. “He’s now used by some people who have a magnificent old four wheel carriage. Vinnie takes them for a spin from time to time and loves it as much as they do”.
Country harness followers will be familiar with the names of Sarah’s winners. Vinnie Blue Jeans (4 wins), Guys Soul (2), Smooth Wish (1),
Rockstar Ruler (1), Arizona McGee (2), Doranelly (4), Gotta Feeling (1), Shannonsaprincess ( 1), Aces First (4 - one of her favourites), Jedi Superstar (1), Leighmont (4), Thingamijig (1), Wecanonlyhope (1), Coralie Joy (1), Jackeroo Shannon (2), Christian Shannon (3), Gotta Rush (5), Quinzel (2), Clancy Pants (1), Tiger’s Courage (1), Calypso Shannon (3), Capital Collect (1).
Gotta Rush, one of her two winners last week is a special favourite. She’s the first winner Sarah has actually bred (Mr. Feelgood-Doranelly), and had to overcome a chronic “tying up” issue early in her career. “She cost me a sizeable sum in vet fees early on, but has squared the account with five wins”, says the trainer.
Image courtesy PeterMac Photography - Sarah notches the double on Gotta Rush - the first foal she ever bred.
Sarah will produce a four year old full sister to Gotta Rush at Tamworth on Dec 5th, appropriately named Adrenaline Rush. This unraced mare has been a work in progress for her patient trainer. “Her biggest concern is the score up’, says her patient trainer. “She had thirteen educational outings behind the gate before we even went to the trials. She gets herself into a hell of a state when the gate takes off. Once she is actually on the gate she’s OK. You’ve just got to know her”.
The first leg of last week’s double was the eight year gelding Berling, trained by newcomer Mackayla Mitchell who is still some time away from gaining her race driving ticket. “Mackayla is doing all the things I was doing ten years ago”, says Sarah. “She’s very dedicated and very keen. It’s great to have her among our training ranks”.
Image courtesy PeterMac Photography - Trackside interview with Julie Maughan at Tamworth.
Thirty six year old Rushbrook works her four horse team in conjunction with a job commitment which has become near and dear to her heart. She is employed by D.C.S (Consulting Support Tamworth) as a full time carer for Amy Wheelhouse, a happy twenty five year old autistic girl who has an intellectual disability. “I love my time with Amy who’s become a very important part of my life”, says Sarah. “I often take her to the stables where she delights in doing a few little chores or giving the horses a pat”.
Those stables are housed in a six barn complex on the Tamworth Paceway which is home to thirteen trainers and 60-65 horses at all times. “It used to be a dark and hot environment, but HRNSW have installed skylights and whirlybirds which have made an enormous difference’, said the trainer. “We’ve also been given eight roomy day yards which trainers share by arrangement. The track is diligently looked after in preparation for race days and trackwork”.
Sarah still misses the unwavering encouragement of her mother Rita who died prematurely a year ago. Happily the gap is filled by the boundless enthusiasm of her adoring dad Michael whose zest for life hasn’t been diminished by the ravages of stroke.
Image courtesy PeterMac Photography - Dad would have cheered this one home. Another one for Gotta Rush 25/07/2019.
I don’t know what it is about these remarkable standardbred horses. People drift into the game from all sorts of backgrounds, at all sorts of ages. Once involved they’re usually there for the long haul.
Sarah Rushbrook’s a perfect example. She spent around ten years working with thoroughbreds, but the trotting bug was laying dormant the whole time.
All it took was half an hour in the cart behind a sweet natured mare on a rainy morning at Ebenezer thirteen years ago.
(Banner image courtesy PeterMac Photography - Sarah nabs them on the line with Tiger Courage.)