SUSAN CORBETT - NORTH-EAST BASED TRAINER, AND NEW TO SYNDICATE CONNECT

SYNDICATE CONNECT is thrilled to welcome Susan Corbett as one of our trainers, along with her horse, Knockeranna Rose.

We requested Susan to respond to several questions to gain insight into her, her team, and what drives her.

SUSAN CORBETT

 - For how many years have you been training racehorses, and what motivated you to pursue a career as a trainer?

I have held a full Flat and Jumps license for just 10 years—though it feels like a lifetime! We owned a stud farm where we bred Thoroughbreds and were fortunate to have stallion legends like Bahri. Eventually, we had an excess of young horses that nobody wanted to buy, and I was in need of a new challenge. I had some qualifications from the stud side and had begun training Point to Pointers that we had bred. Years ago, when I had a 'proper job' with a salary and company car, I had horses in training with several different trainers and felt I would love to do the same.

   - Could you share details about the most interesting horses you've trained and their accomplishments?

• Virnon won a bumper ridden by son Jamie ( now my Assistant trainer ) and went on to be 7th at the New Years Day Cheltenham Bumper.

• Ahead of the Curve rated 137 in his hay day.

• Pinot Rouge – first listed Winner last year.

• Champ Royal won 4 in 2024

• Velasco won 4 in 2024

• Atomic Angel – won 4

• Clear Angel – winner on the flat of over 44k from a bargain buy of £1500

• Les’s Legacy – new syndicate bought a 50% share on the Monday and he won on the Thursday! (and won again this week, 25th March - image below).

This could be a long list……

   - What achievements as a trainer are you most proud of?

Morning with Ivan, had a foal with us (Les Legacy), and then returned to work to secure 5 wins for us. On that same day, she claimed her first victory post-maternity leave, while Gowanbuster triumphed on the Flat at Newcastle, achieving a fantastic double.

   - Can you explain your training philosophy and method of horse care?

Common sense, good staff and individual attention to each horse

   - How do you customize training programs for each horse?

My son manages the daily training programs, and we are fortunate to have numerous facilities to accommodate the various needs of the horses.

   - Could you provide details about your training facilities and where your stables are situated?

Our farm spans 140 acres, providing ample grazing and turnout space. We have two horse walkers, eliminating the need for road work. The facilities include a 2-furlong sand circle, a 5-furlong all-weather gallop, a 5-furlong grass gallop, an arena, a schooling field equipped with fences and hurdles, and a water walkway—Jamie's invention for cooling the horses' tendons and cleaning their legs after intense gallop sessions. Additionally, we have five barns with stabling for 40 horses, three individual stables, and an isolation box.

Our location is just half a mile from the A696 in Otterburn Village, and we are centrally situated (though in a rural area) within less than two hours from Newcastle, Hexham, Sedgefield, Kelso, Carlisle, Catterick, Thirsk, Ripon, Redcar, and other locations.

   - What types of track surfaces and amenities does your facility offer?

Our all-weather surface is made of carpet fiber, while the circle consists of sand and fiber, and the arena is composed of sand and rubber.

   - What is the level of experience of your team, and what roles do they fulfill in the training process?

My son Jamie, a winner of 28 races as a jockey, is now an assistant trainer, and Josh Duffy, who has been in racing since he was 16, has worked for Emmet Mullins, James Ewart, Sandy Thompson, among others, and has returned to his roots as the head lad. I have four girls: Bekah has just obtained her Amateur license, Abi is our student working on her NVQ 2, Caitlin is about to begin her NVQ 3, and Amanda is also set to start her NVQ 3. All have worked for other trainers before joining Girsonfield.

   - What is your preferred method of communicating with owners regarding their horses' progress?

I send out a weekly newsletter, utilize WhatsApp, and make traditional phone calls. I believe that communication is essential.

CLICK TO SEE SUSAN'S HORSE KNOCKERANNA ROSE ON SYNDICATE CONNECT

   - How frequently can owners anticipate updates, and what format will they take? (e.g., reports, calls)

Usually a few days each week with photos and videos on gallops, race plans, etc.

   - To what extent can owners participate in the training process and decision-making?

I keep all my owners informed about progress, appreciate their visits to the yard, and consider their advice. However, ultimately, they pay me to train their horse and make the decisions.

   -Are there opportunities for owners to visit and watch their horses train?

Yes, they can visit anytime, we operate an open house. My Owners are a fantastic group of people who have gotten to know each other and get along very well. One Owner even said, 'the yard feels more like a family.' Each Owner is (almost) as happy to see other Owners' horses win as they are for their own!

    - How do you stay updated on the latest training techniques and developments in the industry?

I frequently read racing publications and magazines, and I love gathering insights from other trainers!

    - How does a standard training day for a horse under your care typically unfold?

5:30 Jamie will feed all of the horses.

7:30 Staff arrive, and the horses go on the walker for the first session while they are being mucked out. Teamwork is essential. The team rides four sets in various exercises, from 8 and 8 on the circle (4 miles) to three working up the AW weather gallop or schooling over fences and hurdles. They warm up in the arena, where they are checked for any issues before heading to the gallops. Afterward, they go through the water walkway, have a warm shower, and cool down on the walker. Once all have been ridden, they are groomed meticulously to check for any cuts, feet are oiled, and rugs are put back on, followed by lunch. After lunch, they go on the walker or enjoy some time in the field while their boxes are cleaned out. Then it's tea time! Staff leave at 4:00, and Josh feeds the night feeds around 8 p.m.

    - How can you effectively manage training and rest intervals to achieve peak performance?

It purely depends on how the individual approaches their work – they have Sundays off and a few days off following racing events.

    - What criteria do you use to assess a horse's preparedness for racing? Which metrics are considered?

If a horse goes up or gallop 3 times at working pace and takes little recovery time we assess he is almost ready to race – the we have racecourse gallops at Newcastle to put the finishing touches to peak fitness.

    - What changes do you make to training if a horse isn't advancing as anticipated?

We talk and usually consult our vets who visit the yard twice a week – he might have ulcers, for instance. Alternatively, he might simply need more time to reach fitness, in which case we would take a step back. Feedback from my riders is crucial in this process.

    - Can you describe a situation where you faced a significant challenge with a horse and how you overcame it?

Blimey, how many? Ivan's Legacy is a homebred horse—he is very high-strung, and although we've prepared him twice for racing, we felt he might have a meltdown, so we gave him more time to mature. He will be racing soon. Wor Verge had numerous issues when he was young, but with patience, he went on to win six races.

Clear Angel was a nightmare to transport, attempting to turn himself inside out. Now, we travel him alone with all partitions removed, creating a traveling stable where he is content.

    - How are travel and logistics managed for races, especially when they take place outside your local area?

We possess a two-stall lorry, a trailer, a pickup, and a car equipped for towing, providing numerous travel choices.

– for trips over 4 hours, we typically stay overnight, except for Velasco, who travels on the same day since he doesn't settle well away from home.

    - Are you able to adjust your training methods for horses with varying temperaments or backgrounds?

Yes, I believe we are quite versatile – there's ample space, and visitors often comment on how content and happy our horses appear, always anticipating the next carrot! Horses that become overly excited on the gallops can engage in steady work on the circle. 

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How do you envision your training operation in five years?

Our Owners are providing us with superior horses – we initially started with homebred horses of average quality. We now have a small breeding unit consisting of our own winning mares: Ebony Rose, Morning with Ivan, Bahrikate, and now Atomic Angel. Our goal is to breed better horses to compete with trainers who spend far more than we and our owners can afford. In the next five years, I aim to win higher profile races and become a more recognized yard, though our motto remains ‘to get the best from each horse, regardless of their ability.’ We have received various awards for our yard, such as the 2022 Lycetts Team Challenge and Trainer magazine’s ‘Trainer of the Quarter.’ Our success stems from Happy Horses, content staff, and dedicated Owners!