Rookie trainer Nathan McPherson has made an impact in a short time in the game winning metropolitan races with two tried six-year-olds.
The 24-year-old, who saddled up his first runner just four months ago, landed his first Saturday metropolitan win with $26 shot Adamon at Flemington on Saturday.
His first city winner, rejeuvenated galloper Testaguy, who scored at a midweek Sandown meeting on March 7, will try to keep the stable’s momentum going this week with McPherson yet to decide whether to run him at Cranbourne on Friday night or in Saturday’s Elmore Cup at Bendigo.
“I bought him at a tried sale a bit over 12 months ago. He cost about $14,500 because they said he was a broken down hack that wouldn’t get back to the races,” McPherson said.
McPherson, who has five horses in work at Mornington and 11 on his books overall, wandered in and out of racing for a few years before settling on a training career.
“I’ve always loved horses. I got a job when I was 13 with Robbie Griffiths and every time I went away from it and got a few trades behind me I kept coming back to it and decided I wanted to give it a go myself,” he said.
“I was apprenticed to Bruce Purcell for six months but riding wasn’t my go, training them is what I want to do.”
“I got experience mainly working for John White, I did a stint with the Freedmans, Peter Snowden and Peter Healey.”
To raise the money to set himself up as a trainer, McPherson started up a roof tiling company which he ran for 12 months.
“It’s been a three-year journey but it’s starting to pay off,” he said.
“It was a massive punt but I’ve believed in myself.”
Five of the horses McPherson has are owned by Wayne Ware.
“Adamon is the first one of those horses I’ve got to the races and he’s done a marvellous job,” he said.
Adamon has won six races and placed in eight of 30 starts.
The gelding has had seven starts for McPherson for a win and three placings including a third at Sandown.
