THAT WILL DO ME

Q

You battled with making weight throughout your riding career. Is that what led to you make the shift into training?

A

Yes. I was sitting at home one Thursday night about 8pm and had just finished roast dinner. I didn’t have any rides for the weekend and had a beer. The phone rang and a mate said he had a ride for me on Saturday. He said it will win but I told him I was too heavy. It had 53kg and I was about 58kg. I took off nearly a stone from sweat baths and taking pills. I got to ride it and it led them easily and I looked over my shoulder coming to the home turn. I was about five in front and the horse was jogging. I straightened up and gave it a little kick in the ribs to let it go and it blew out and ran last. I came in and threw the saddle in the port on the floor and said, ‘that’s it, I’m finished’. I rode my last one at the Gold Coast the week after at 57kg.

Q

You went on to win a trainers premiership on the Gold Coast in the 1995-96 season and were inducted into the Gold Coast Turf Club Hall of Fame in 2013. What did that mean to you?

A

I ran second to Alan Bailey for quite a few years before I got up and knocked him off that year. The Hall of Fame was a shock to me. It was something I never expected. I felt very honoured to be selected. I wasn’t even going to go to the awards and a young lady from the club convinced me to go and I nearly fell off my chair.