It is fortunate that Sheena West is an optimist.

The Lewes trainer is looking forward to the Autumn, despite a disastrous summer during which she lost one horse and had to put another on hold after he trod on a flint and nearly severed a tendon.

She said: "When you have got only six or seven horses and run the yard on a shoe-string, setbacks like those hit you hard.

"I do get emotionally involved with my horses and to have a nice three-year-old only just broken in, slip over and kill himself stone dead by hitting his head on the road was almost too much."

Luckily, the horse was being led at the time so no one was injured, but the incident, back in June, was bizarre.

West said: "The poor fellow didn't suffer and the owners, a new syndicate, were very calm about it.

"All the same I did have to be very self-controlled. These horses depend entirely on us for everything - you just have to press on and do your best."

As if all that was not enough, Sheena's first winner since early May, Wizard Of The West at Fontwell eight days ago, was claimed for £5,000 after scoring 66-1, thus decimating her small string even more.

"No, I didn't back him either," said Sheena ruefully. "I couldn't. He is a serious non trier and totally unreliable.

"The only consolation is he' has gone up nearly two stone in the handicap as a result of winning so perhaps it's not such a loss after all."

But that was then and this is now and Sheena's optimism was vindicated when Fiddles Music scored at Brighton on Wednesday.

Ironically, Sheena had claimed Fiddles Music out of Mick Channon's yard in June so it was a case of lose one, win one.

A couple of newcomers are lifting the hopes of the Balmer Farm Stables team.

"We bought a three-year-old at Newmarket sales called Dubai Ace. He had been trained in Ireland and ran a couple of decent races without winning.

"He is owned by the Mucky Duck Partnership who also have Tis Gromit with me and he wasn't expensive. He's certain to earn his keep."

Sheena was not disappointed with a two-year-old filly, Vino Venus, having her first run at Brighton last Monday.

She said: "There's the perfect race for her early in October back at Brighton.

"The filly handled the track and the conditions mean she will get in with a pretty low weight."

There is also Screen Play, who cost Brighton resident Paul Hancock a five-figure sum.

"He is by In The Wings, a lovely pedigree, and he will be schooled over hurdles to become a dual-purpose horse," said the trainer.

"In fact, I think I'll win next year's Ebor Handicap with him," she laughed.

Given this year's Ebor had only just been run, that is surely positive thinking deserving of reward.