Ben Gleeson

Assistant Trainer (Cranbourne, Victoria, Australia)

Ben Gleeson comes from a racing and breeding family, has worked for top trainers, included European racing experience while working in the UK, and recently ended five years as assistant trainer to Danny O’Brien who has stables at Flemington, Barwon Heads, and Geelong.

Gleeson grew up on Phoenix Broodmare Farm at Euroa, Victoria, where he learned and helped his father, Damian Gleeson, with breeding and foaling, and mother Merilyn Anderson who trained at Seymour.

He graduated with a Bachelor in Business Management at La Trobe University, Melbourne.

He broadened his experience through school holidays working for local father and son trainers Lee and Shannon Hope at Seymour, and after graduating then worked for Peter Moody, Henry Dwyer, and very successful trainer Hugo Palmer during two years in the UK, which included time in Germany, France, Ireland, while learning about the racing systems employed in those countries.

He has learnt the use and implementation of GPS and data to help fine tune training to the specific requirements of each horse – heart rate, recovery, etc, which helps pick up any issues a horse may have and whether they are improving within the preparation.

Gleeson said: “The aim is to have horses in the stable by the first week of September (2023). We hope to have 20 horses in work by November and have a goal of up to 60 – 80 in 12 to 18 months.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and time for Te Akau and their owners to be setting up a stable in Australia. I’m really looking forward to getting underway and seeing their colours winning races.”