Written by Paul Vettise
Joe Waldron had to wait for just over a year to lead in his first city winner and the Mornington-based horseman has a chance of further metropolitan success on Saturday.
The former travelling foreman for champion New Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman initially trained in his own right before making the move to Victoria in November, 2018.
Mongolian Khan | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
It was during his time with Baker and Forsman that Waldron made several trips across the Tasman with the now retired Group 1 winners Mongolian Khan and Turn Me Loose (NZ), both stallions now domiciled at Windsor Park Stud.
It was through his association with the Emirates S. and Futurity S. winner Turn Me Loose that eventually led Waldron to Mornington.
"I did a couple of years as travelling foreman for Murray and Andrew which was a great grounding and which has ultimately led to this," Waldron said.
"I was lucky enough to look after some very good horses and being hands on with them you learn a lot, the type of work they need, the feeding, it was a great apprenticeship.
“I went out on my own, but with the way racing at home was at the time it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and things improving in the short term.
“Being young it seemed a good time to take the opportunity. I had owners who wanted their horses trained in Melbourne and they offered me the chance to do it, which was great.
“I had owners who wanted their horses trained in Melbourne and they offered me the chance to do it, which was great.” – Joe Waldron
“Lindsay De Souza and Todd Hartley and a few of the other guys in Turn Me Loose are all Melbourne-based themselves.”
De Souza and Hartley are involved in the ownership of Break My Stride (Zoffany {Ire}), who broke Waldron’s city duck when he won at Caulfield on Wednesday.
Break My Stride
“It was fantastic, especially with him as he’s a horse that takes a lot of work so it was a good reward for everybody,” he said.
“It takes a while to get the systems in place, but things are starting to look up now. It’s been a challenging 12 months and we’re going the right way now.”
The stable has a chance to strike again on Saturday at Flemington, where last-start Kyneton winner The First Of May (Zoffany {Ire}), who also runs in Break My Strides colours, will step out in the Christmas Race Day Trophy.
“She’s a really nice filly and I’ve liked her right from the start. I probably did the wrong thing by running her on a heavy track on debut,” Waldron said.
“She’s a really nice filly and I’ve liked her right from the start.” – Joe Waldron
“She had trialled up well previously, but under pressure on race day she couldn’t quicken when her head was let go.
“She did a good job second time to run third and improved again when she broke her maiden at Kyneton. She’s gone ahead again and stepping up to 1400 metres will suit her.”
The First Of May
Waldron said the Mornington facilities and tracks were ideal for his operation.
“We’ve got 30-odd boxes just off the course and we just walk them on to the track. We’re getting there and there’s obviously always room for nice horses,” he said.
“We’ve got really good people working for us now and that’s fantastic. You can’t do anything without the right staff so it’s onwards and upwards.”
