OUR EXPERTS
Leonard Russo
Bloodstock Agent
Leonard (Lenny) Russo at Bluegrass Bloodstock is Toward Reward’s Bloodstock Agent. He helps us select our horses so that we have the best chance of success on the racetrack.
Leonard is an exceptional judge of thoroughbreds with extensive experience. He has worked all over the world for organisations including Ashwell Stud, Coolmore Stud, Cambridge Stud, Roger James Racing, John Hawkes Racing, and Tattersalls UK. Throughout his career, he has touched every part of the industry. He is one of Australia’s most successful bloodstock agents.
Leonard is a member of the Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia Limited (FBAA) and adheres to the organisation’s strict code of ethics. You can read more about him here.
Emma-Lee & David Browne – Sparta Racing
Trainers
Sparta Racing is led by Trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne, who each have over 20 years of experience in the horse racing industry. The pair are passionate about winning races, and know what it takes to keep horses competing at a top level, with recent successes with the likes of Belle du Nord (NZ), Elephant (NZ), Basilinna (NZ) and Le Zebra (NZ), to name a few.
David is the grandson of New Zealand Hall of Fame Trainers Ken and Ann Browne, and Emma-Lee is the daughter of three-time Australian Showjumping Olympian, Coach and Trainer Jeff McVean.
Emma-Lee and David relocated from New Zealand to Australia in 2022, having enjoyed numerous successes in their home country and successfully campaigned horses in Australia for many years. They have since set up base at the well-equipped Sportsbet-Pakenham Racecourse, which boasts a grass course proper, a polytrack, a hill track, two sand tracks, and a swimming pool.
A true family affair, Emma-Lee and David’s eldest children both take part in riding Sparta horses for trackwork, alongside David, and strap the horses on race days. Lucy also competes in jump outs for the stable.
Emma-Lee and David have endless time for their owners and share our vision to provide a top-notch race-day experience. They’re the first to invite owners to join them at the bar for a drink after a race, celebratory or otherwise!
Patrick Kearney
Trainer
Patrick (Pat) Kearney is a Trainer for Toward Reward horses and a young, up-and-coming trainer to have on your radar.
Pat started riding trackwork at 14 and gained his amateur jockey’s license at 16. Once he finished school, he relocated to Caulfield to work for Mick Price as his travelling foreman, where he worked and rode Group 1 winners, including Seabrook, Hiyaam and Grunt. His determination to learn as much as possible took him to Newmarket in the UK, where Pat worked as Hugo Palmer’s pupil assistant. His time in the UK was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but upon his return to Australia, he formed Patrick Kearney Racing and became a trainer.
Pat concluded his first season with a strike rate of 14% winners to runners and 46% place-getters. He has trained winners in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, including his current stable star Ashy Boy, who ran a gallant 2nd in the listed Tasmanian Derby.
Patrick Kearney Racing’s stables are located on-course at Ballarat and include access to the world-class Ballarat Training Complexes facilities all-weather uphill training track, grass training tracks, sand track, synthetic track, and swimming pool. You can learn more about Patrick Kearney Racing through their Facebook, Instagram or Twitter profiles.
TOWARD REWARD THOROUGHBREDS PTY LTD (Authorised Representative No 001292019)
Being an Authorised Representative of Stable Connect Ltd (AFS Licence No. 336964)
Stable Connect is the Promotor and Offeror of all horses managed by Toward Reward Thoroughbreds
Toward Reward Thoroughbreds is proudly an Approved Promoter of Racing Victoria