3 minute read

Two new names will feature in South Australian form guides this season.

Gawler horseman Gary Searle will share the spotlight with wife Nicole and daughter Brianna joining forces for SA's first three-person training partnership.

Having worked as assistant trainer for Richard and Chantelle Jolly for the past six years, Brianna said seeing the change in dynamic at their Morphettville stable was the catalyst to return home to Gawler and join new look Team Searle.

"Starting a partnership wasn't necessarily on the books to start with,'' Brianna, 32, said.

"It wasn't until Chantelle came on with Richard and I saw the dynamic with them I thought that was something I'd like to try.

"(I've) worked there for the last six years and got a lot out of it,'' she said.

Gary, who has been training for almost 30 years with more than 360 winners to his name and splits his stable between Gawler and Port Lincoln in the summer months said the change would only be an asset for the stable.

"It's quite exciting, I'm really looking forward to it,'' Gary Searle said.

"We were sitting around talking one day and Brianna already had that (idea) going through her head.

"She's been here back with us almost a month now and it's a nice change in the way we do things. Nicole and I have already been working together as a partnership for a long time, so this just adds another dimension,'' he said.

And another strong voice and opinion will also see the stable again have a significant footprint in Port Lincoln in the upcoming season.

"Port Lincoln was a little bit tricky last season,'' Gary said.

"We had a few issues with track riders but this year we've got Ellis Wong on board riding work here at Gawler and he'll be able to come over for a week or 10 days at a time and really sure things up there for us.

"We've also got someone over there lined up to ride a lot of work this season so that is going to be a huge asset. We came home early, and it probably cost us winners, but I can't see that being a problem,'' he said.

And Searle said a fresh perspective on the stable and an eye on the future is going to be a significant change for the stable.

"She will certainly bring something new to the table, after spending six years with Richard she certainly has a great grounding,'' Gary said.

And with the stable increasing its size over the past 12 months he said it would help them enhance their already strong position on the Provincial Trainer's Premiership where they sit fifth.

"A lot of the partnerships are older trainers bring younger people in,'' Gary said.

"Things change quickly, young people like Brianna are enthusiastic, the want to build the business and eventually it's going to be their business.

"We've gone up in numbers this year, we've bought extra horses and we've hung on to a couple that we've got our eye on Port Lincoln,'' he said.

Nicole said having another set of ideas and someone with an eye on the future would be a huge plus to their stable.

"We want to get more owners, more horses on board,'' Nicole said.

"With Brianna coming on board (and) with her social media side of things, we can develop that,'' she said.

And when it comes to having the final say about what direction they will take with a horse?

"Dad tries to tell us what's going on, but mum and I have the final say,'' Brianna said.

"We get along well most of the time.

"We work well together, and I think we'll be alright,'' she said.