Leigh-Ann Derecourt and the late John Stubbs prepared their small stable of gallopers as a team for almost two decades. 

At times Stubbs was listed as the official trainer while in later years, the barn was in Derecourt's name.

Stubbs officially last sent a horse to face the starter in late 2010 at Ipswich, collecting three winners over his around six years of training.

When Stubbs tragically passed away around four years ago, Derecourt was left with a newly established training property on the Southern Downs Region of Queensland with a few gallopers in work.

"Since then, I have found it really difficult," Derecourt admits.

"It was him and I that did it all together but now I am on my own, it makes it really hard."

There were many times she considered giving it all away.

She was not seeing any reward for her effort, not training any winners since her late partner died.

"I was just about to pull the pin, I kept thinking that I could not do it on my own," she said.

"It is hard work doing it all on my own. Something was not right."

It all changed when she purchased veteran galloper Grey Noise.

The grey gelding had done all his career racing with Caroline Allardyce before Derecourt recently purchased him for just $5,000.

The son of Love Conquers All has given the Pratten-based conditioner a renewed zest for training following his breakthrough victory last Thursday at Gatton.

Grey Noise led all the way over the speedy 860 metre trip to hand Derecourt a maiden winner in her name as a trainer, as well as being the first victory since Stubbs passed.

"This bloke came along, buying this grey fella is the best thing I ever did," she said on Monday morning.

"I am motivated now to keep going.

"It was pretty good to get my first winner since he passed."

Derecourt first started a galloper in a race in August of 2012 and landed her first winner more than a decade later. 

She has three gallopers on her books but usually just has one in work at a time.

Grey Noise last raced for Allardyce in April before saluting at his first go for his new trainer.

Derecourt notes that Grey Noise struggled to settle into his new environment at first after doing all his career racing with Allardyce at Gatton. 

She has since put him with a mini pony as a mate, which has helped his transition.

In years gone by, Derecourt says her and Stubbs had their best luck with horses they nurtured from their earliest days in work.

"We used to buy yearlings at the sales and break them in, getting them racing," Derecourt said.

"That is where we had the most success, doing it from the get-go."

Pratten is about 25 minutes from the track at Warwick, where Derecourt will head on rare mornings to work her gallopers.

She prepares her small team on 10 acres.

Grey Noise spends plenty of time out in day yards in the open spaces at Pratten. 

"We bought this place and set it all up for the horses, we have virtually everything here," she said.

"We have a swim, a water walker, a set of barriers and a couple of stables with a big round yard.

"We have put in a 400 metre work track so I don't need to go into the Warwick track every day."

Grey Noise is entered to try and make it back-to-back victories at Lockyer Valley Turf Club this Thursday afternoon.