Tables turn for roving trainer

WELL-TRAVELLED horseman Alan Pateman trained his first winner in three years at Cannon Park on Monday and thinks number two could be imminent with stable newcomer Our Boy Pendles.

He has had stops in Gladstone, Wangaratta and Western Australia before Pateman last year settled at Tolga with four horses in work.

Filly Miss Ester had been knocking on the door across the back end of 2018 and Pateman got reward for effort on Monday, with the three-yearold claiming the QTIS Jewel Qualifier Three-Year-Old Handicap ( 870m) by half a length.

Before that, the experienced trainer’s last winner was at Mackay in early 2016.

Former Rockhamptonbased gelding Our Boy Pendles, which Pateman bred, has his first start for the new stable this afternoon at Innisfail.

Our Boy Pendles put together a solid strike-rate in Central Queensland, winning on four occasions from 10 starts for Jared Wehlow.

Pateman thinks the bay gelding may need a run to get fit but believes he will be right in the Ratings Band 0-65 Handicap (1200m) today.

“With the wet weather up here, it has been hard to get the horses working,” Pateman said.

“I am looking forward to getting a decent run under his belt and get some fitness into him.

“I am hopeful that he will go well up here at Innisfail, he is going good at the minute.”

Top heavyweight jockey Kerry Rockett (pictured) takes the ride of Our Boy Pendles today.

Pateman, then Wangarattabased, created headlines back in 2009 when he entered his restricted class galloper Keikogi for the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

The gelding did not end up running in the Group 1, instead running at Wagga – finishing sixth over a mile.

With Miss Ester winning the QTIS Jewel Qualifier Three-Year-Old Handicap on Monday, the filly is ballot exempt from the $125,000 final on March 17 on the Gold Coast.

However, the Tablelands trainer will not be making the trip to the Glitter Strip.

“I find it funny that there are four country heats that will then go and run against the best three-year-olds in Brisbane,” Pateman said.

“You would think they would all be in the same class but for us to go down and beat city horses, that is a bit hard.

“She has ability but it is a different level down there.”