Rookie trainer Jarrod Austin and apprentice rider Shaun Guymer both bought up their first metropolitan wins at Randwick yesterday when Yonderstar saluted in the 1800m NMW Handicap.
Guymer only rode a horse competitively for the first time three years ago, and has already bought up 65 bush winners.
“I’ve had about a dozen rides in town, but this is my first winner,” Guymer said.
“It’s something that me, my manager and my master (Mark Schmetzer) have been trying to work on in the past few weeks, trying to crack into this area.
“It’s tremendous to have my first city winner here at Randwick, especially when I’m riding up against guys like Damien Oliver, Kerrin McEvoy and Nash Rawiller.”
Yonderstar went into the race fresh off two country wins, however at $41, there weren’t many that gave the four year old a chance, however trainer Jarrod Austin was always confident the mare could produce her best form in town.
“I knew it was a big step up for her today but I thought she deserved her chance in town,” Austin said.
What made the win even more special was the fact that Austin was only granted a trainer’s license last week.
Austin worked as foreman for the Denise McGrath stable for the best part of a decade, and became head trainer of the stable when McGrath decided that she would spend more time focussing on her pre-training and agistment property.
“I had a trainers license years ago and had a bit of success in the country but then gave it away when I started working with Denise,” he said.
“This is my first city winner and I’m very happy. Denise has been really good to me and when she decided to step aside it gave me the opportunity to take over.”
While Austin trained his first city winner at Randwick yesterday, legendary trainer Bart Cummings was on hand to witness his 32nd Sydney winner of this season.
Cummings, who had not been on course for a number of weeks, was on hand to watch his only runner of the day, Around the Clock, salute in the first race of the day.
“I feel great. Nothing like training a winner,” said Cummings.
