A little girl who rode ponies and dreamed of being a jockey, is now making a name for herself at Thoroughbred Park on International Women's Day.
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But Danielle Seib won't be on the saddle when Spicy Restaurant bursts through the gates during the Black Opal Stakes.
She'll be the only stand-alone female trainer in the mounting yard, eagerly watching her two-year-old colt run in Canberra's $250,000 race.
There are no female jockeys in the Black Opal this year and Seib could be joined by Trent Bussitin's co-trainer Natalie Young as the only women in the mounting yard.
But the thought of being in a boys club has never crossed her mind. Her rise through the ranks as a young, female trainer came naturally given her family history in racing.
Her late father Lewis Seib was a trainer in Musswellbrook before passing away with a brain tumour, leaving a then 23-year-old Seib to take over the stable.
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"It's been all positive and I'm very comfortable, I don't feel at all in a boys club or anything," Seib said.
"It's what you make of it. It's definitely a great avenue and lifestyle, a thrill to be a part of.
"Racing has been great to me. My dad was a foreman for Brian Mayfield-Smith and then at Scone, so it was part of my childhood.
"When he passed away it was a natural progression. Being a young trainer coming through the ranks everyone has been great and I've picked up a few owners.
"Having this two-year-old Spicy Restaurant and Assault'n'Bathory, which won two Highways and won a Country Championships qualifier. It's all been positive."
Spicy Restaurant has had one podium finish in his three starts, running second in a handicap (1000 metres) for two-year-old horses in December.
The chestnut colt is coming off seventh from his last start in Canberra and Seib expects Spicy Restaurant to improve, albeit the hard Black Opal field.
He's the first two-year-old runner Seib has had in her stable and she's excited to be a part of the signature race for the first time in her career.
"It's a great honour and achievement, it's the best local race going around," Seib said.
"The most important thing is it's a nice race for the colt and we had hoped it might have fallen away a bit more with the wet track.
"We're of the belief he quite likes a wet track, he handles it well. So we were hoping for a bit more rain, so that would play into his hands really well.
"We also hoped it might have been an easier field with the horses that were accepted from Saturday's Todman Stakes."
Five runners in the Black Opal were also nominated for races at Royal Randwick and Flemington, but only three are likely to be scratched from the race.
Ciaron Maher's Muntaseera ran second in a group 3 (1200 metres) in Melbourne on Saturday. Jean Dubois-trained See You Soon finished second in the Reisling Stakes (1200 metres), while On The Lead came fifth in the Todmans Stakes (1200 metres) in Sydney.
Spicy Restaurant drew barrier nine for the Black Opal and will be ridden by jockey Glyn Schofield.
"I'm not too concerned about the barrier, so far he's been pretty versatile," Seib said.
"He shows he can lead but also take a sit. I'd preferably like to see him in and behind the leaders, so I'll leave it up to Glyn on the day."
CANBERRA CARNIVAL
Sunday: National Sprint (1400 metres) at 4.30pm, Black Opal Stakes (1200 metres) at 5.10pm.
Monday: Canberra Guineas (1400 metres) at 4.30pm, Canberra Cup (2000 metres) at 5.15pm.