Magic awaits Sears' on the Gold Coast

By Jordan Gerrans

As one of the newest stables based at Aquis Park, it is only fitting that the Sears team strike a blow or two on Magic Millions day of 2025.

The father-and-daughter training combination of Tony and Maddysen Sears have recently branched out from their original Clifford Park base to also have boxes at the Gold Coast club.

The Sears’ have been in scorching hot form of late, as well.

Beau Dazzler put his hand up as one of the leading three-year-olds in the state while stablemate Steady Ready recently smashed a long-standing track record.

Steady Ready will fly the flag for the camp on Saturday alongside arguably the barn’s best galloper – Yellow Brick.

Maddysen has shifted from the Darling Downs to the Glitter Strip of Australia to operate the GC stable.

After the family’s success in feature races over the last couple of campaigns, the energetic Maddysen says the move just made complete sense for all involved.

“Expanding has always been something we wanted to do and once we had such a great Queensland carnival and the ball was rolling in such a great direction, it just came about,” the co-trainer said.

“It has been all systems go from then on.

“It is something that I am very glad and thankful that I took up this opportunity.

“It is the best thing that I could have done and it is the best thing for our business and my career to make the move down here.

“At this point in time, things are going well because we have got good systems in place, the stable runs smoothly.”

The Sears’ Gold Coast yard has around 20 in work at any time with Tony regularly making the drive down the range from Toowoomba to support his daughter's endeavour.

Asked how tough it can be to function two stables at once from different locations, Maddysen says it can be a challenge at times but notes her parents and staff are supportive and helpful.

Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines said it was a compliment for the club’s redeveloped facilities to have another high-profile training team join the existing training ranks late last year.

“We are delighted to have Tony and Maddysen joining the list of high-quality trainers already based out of Aquis Park,” Lines said.

“Following the completion of our $73 million tracks, tunnel and lights project, the club is embarking on an exciting future.

“The introduction of night racing marks the start of a new era for the club and we are gearing up for our biggest ever summer racing carnival from December right through to late January.”

While the Sears’ will predominantly race in the Sunshine State, the new stable location opens doors for the team to race regularly on the Northern Rivers of NSW.

It also aids their travels interstate with star gallopers such as Yellow Brick.

“We believe there are more opportunities for us after opening the stable on the Gold Coast as it seems to be more appealing to have a horse trained here compared to Toowoomba,” she said.

“We do not have a base at Toowoomba to race there a lot, we have a predominantly metropolitan stable of runners.

“And, being here at the Gold Coast, it is a lot closer to be racing horses over the border.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, the team have Yellow Brick in the QTIS race over 1300 metres while Steady Ready will tackle the 1200 metre Snippets event.

Yellow Brick will likely start favourite in the QTIS contest. 

Steady Ready was electric at his last appearance, claiming a Benchmark 90 Handicap over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm as he shattered a long-standing track record.

“I think he has well and truly put his hand up after his last win where he broke a track record that has stood there for 14 years,” Maddysen said.

“It is a monstrous effort, really. I am very, very happy with the two boys, we have got Jason Collett booked for both of them on Magic Millions day.

“I think they will be super, super competitive.”

The quality Collett has had a busy start to his time in Queensland over the summer period, piloting three winners over the last few weeks.

Yellow Brick tuned up for his first-up performance with a stylish trial at the Gold Coast late last year.

The Sears clan have big plans for their stable star in 2025 with Magic Millions day a perfect kick-off point.

“He had an enormous trial,” she said.

“He is well and truly on track. I have spent a lot of time with this horse, travelling to Sydney together.

“He is a horse that I believe has put Dad and I on the map. He has been fantastic, he has a great resume behind him and I can only imagine it will get better.”

The Sears’ are in two minds about Yellow Brick’s plans for 2025.

After running in the rich Five Diamonds in Sydney last year, the five-year-old son of The Mission will certainly contest the King of the Mountain this year.

But, from there the father-and-daughter team are tossing up if they should target Queensland’s great race – the Stradbroke Handicap – or step him up in trip to the Doomben Cup.

Yellow Brick will also be joined on a big winter campaign by stablemate Beau Dazzler who couldn’t have been more impressive in the later months of 2024 and is on a path to the Derby later this year.