Darling View Thoroughbreds team member Sanna Jackson was among 13 trainees who graduated from the 2024 TBA Fast Track Program at Scone Race Club last month.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia launched the Program in 2018 to provide an accelerated introduction and learning experience to help Fast Track graduates progress and build successful careers in the industry. Now in its eighth year, Fast Track has proved to be a successful pathway with 90 per cent of trainees continuing to work in the industry after completing the course.
Sanna is among a full-time staff of 12 at Darling View in Mundijong and can see herself remaining a fixture in our industry after emerging from some lifestyle and career changes before applying for the Fast Track Program.
Sanna Jackson pictured with TBA CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy at the Fast Track graduation in Scone
“My Mum worked in Defence and moving back and forth is a fact of life in military families,” Sanna recalled. “I grew up in Queensland and arrived in Perth for the first time when she was transferred to WA in 2010. I had two passions – art and horses even though I had next to no connection with thoroughbreds.
“I graduated with an Art Degree at University but COVID put an end to any full-time prospects. I commenced working in hospitality and worked my way up to managing restaurants in Brisbane and Perth but wasn’t really happy in those roles.
“Then I decided to follow my other passion and started working at Darling View. I couldn’t have asked for a better place and have no regrets whatsoever. It’s a family-run stud with Clive, Trisha and Brent Atwell. It’s a close, caring business and I’m treated like one their own.”
Darling View’s TBWA Leadership Award winner Chris Lambert has also been an immense help supervising Sanna in all aspects of the day-to-day routines at a busy commercial stud. “I started from the ground up and you never stop learning with horses.
“That’s when I decided it would be the right time to apply for the Fast Track Program when I saw it advertised on Facebook. It runs for twelve-months and includes blocks of two weeks and four weeks in Scone.
“I’ve been working with the vets and farriers when they visit Darling View and I’m also involved with the foals and the stallions although there’s still a way to go before I’m ready to work with them in the serving barn.”
Darling View is approaching one of the busiest times of the year with all three stallions on the roster primed to cover big books. Sanna has an affinity with Lightsaber and his filly from Park Towers (Written Tycoon) that was foaled on her birthday last year – August 15.
Lightsaber (Zoustar) covered 100 mares in his initial season and the Park Towers filly was one of his first foals to arrive at Darling View.
Darling View is also awaiting the first 2yo crop by Splintex (Snitzel) to debut in the new season. His top-priced yearling at the Perth Magic Millions in February was the $100,000 colt from Amillionite (War Chant) that was purchased by Serpentine trainer Tony Triscari. He has been named Il Frammento.
But above and beyond all that, Darling View’s alpha-male Playing God (Blackfriars) is within ten days of claiming a third WA Sires’ Premiership and he will be capped at around the 130 to 140 mark at a $49,500 (inc GST) fee.
It will also be a hectic couple of months for Sanna and an imminent move with her fiancé Jack underlines their resolve to ensure it also becomes a successful career path for both of them. “We will be moving from Mt Lawley closer to Mundijong,” Sanna said. “Jack is from Perth and, being a police constable, he will be hoping for a posting not too far away”
In another positive move for Darling View, its team members Kayla Piotrowski and Robert West are among the Fast Track Program intake for 2025 along with Amelia Park’s Eliana Rogers.
