Punt pays off

A SWAN Hill trainer has started the new year in emphatic fashion after a horse he “took a punt on” crossed the finish line in first place to give him his 15th race win this season.

After hanging up his tools and making the switch to full-time training, former carpenter Nathan Hobson is on track to become the region’s best trainer this year, a title not out of his grasp after working with some of the country’s most famous trainers.

His horse, Financial Burden, finished first in Narracoorte on Sunday just months after a career saving operation, making the win even more special for Hobson and his team.

“We took a punt and operated on her and paid a bit of money to get her back to where she is now, it is great to see her get a win,” Hobson told The Guardian.

“The wins are all special to me, it does not happen often and it is hard work, seven days a week but you get great satisfaction when you win one, let alone 15.”

Hobson’s interest in training began more than 20 years ago after watching his uncle work with the animals, giving him the bug to train himself.

He went to local trainer Austy Coffey to ask if he could train horses with him, beginning his journey in Swan Hill.

“I always wanted to train horses after my uncle owned and raced them … so I went and saw Austy one day,” he said.

“He taught me most of what I know and then he said I had a chance to travel and do some training. I went and worked with some great stables, I first went to Darren Weir’s place, then the legendary Brian Mayfield-Smith and worked there for a couple years before I ended up working with David Hayes.

“I got my training licence four years ago and it has just built up over that time and it has been great.”

He made the decision to leave his carpentry job and began training full time on August 1, a big step in his career.

The results have spoken volumes about his ability with his 15 victories already eclipsing his effort in the 2014/15 season with 13 winners.

On New Year’s Day Hobson secured another career milestone after racing a horse at Flemington, finishing in 10th spot.

“It was a great feeling to have a runner at Flemington, my family have been very supportive and it wouldn’t have been possible without them,” he said.

“I enjoy spending time with [the horses], they have their own characteristics and you slowly pick up what they need, what work they enjoy and how much work they need.

“They are just like humans, you need to work out the best way to train them and how to handle it.”

With 15 winners and only 12 horses in work, Hobson is well placed to finish on the podium in terms of local trainers across the 2015/16 season.