MEET STEPHEN
ROOTS IN RACING
Originally from Bundaberg, Queensland, Stephen McLean’s passion for racing was sparked at a young age. Attending race meetings with his parents was a cherished part of his childhood, but it was a visit to a yearling sale on the Gold Coast that cemented his desire to build a career in thoroughbred racing. From that moment, Stephen set out to gain diverse and in-depth experience across the industry to prepare himself for life as a professional trainer.
At just 14 years old, Stephen began spending his school holidays at Hallmark Stud in New Zealand, working under respected horsemen Mark and Denny Baker. What started as a 12-month opportunity extended into a formative three-year period that he describes as “invaluable.” Determined to keep learning, he returned to Australia to work under Mick Kent Snr, where he further developed his horsemanship and was encouraged to travel and broaden his training perspectives.
INTERNATIONAL HORIZONS
This led Stephen to Newmarket, England, where he spent 18 months with renowned trainer Chris Wall. There, he experienced a different style of training that focused on utilising natural terrain and open gallops rather than traditional tracks. From the UK, he moved to the United States for a year, where he served as travelling foreman for trainer Tom Morley, overseeing daily operations and managing a team of 20 horses across Belmont, Saratoga, and New Orleans.
COMING HOME
Upon returning to Australia, Stephen completed shorter but impactful stints with Archie Alexander and then with Bjorn Baker in Sydney, where he spent two full seasons. His time with Bjorn coincided with the stable’s most successful years and offered valuable insight into managing a large-scale operation, staff leadership, and owner communication.
Further experience came with a season under Matthew Dunn in Murwillumbah, where Stephen gained a deep appreciation for the art of horse placement. He then joined the Michael Freedman stable, gaining exposure to a highly polished metropolitan operation and further refining his eye for detail, race programming, and the individual needs of elite racehorses.
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER
Following this, he relocated to the Gold Coast and took out his own trainer’s license. In 2025, he officially launched his stable under the Stephen McLean Racing banner. Drawing on years of international and domestic experience, Stephen’s training philosophy is grounded in patience, strategic planning, and a genuine love for the horse.
His debut season as a licensed trainer marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in what is already an impressive career journey...