Quick Questions – Getting to know trainer Aaron Laing

In good form with a handful of winners in recent weeks, young Cranbourne based trainer Aaron Laing is a horseman to watch. And our latest QUICK QUESTIONS subject…

What is your first racing memory?

Watching Sunline and Northerly battle out the W.S Cox Plate in the early 2000s.

Who is your favourite horse and why?

Roman Arch. He was the first horse I strapped at the races as a 14yo lad. We won heaps of races together including the Australian Cup, Sandown Classic and Werribee Cup.

Who is the best horse you’ve been involved with? 

Hard to split the top horses I was privileged to work with at Weir’s including Tosen Stardom, Hellbent, Galio Chop, Humidor and Black Heart Bart; the list goes on.

And the best horse you have seen?

Hard to split the wonder mares. I never forget walking behind Black Caviar at Flemington and thinking I was looking at the back end of a bus. Or being in the mounting yard and seeing the elegant Winx stroll around so casually. 

Do you have any promising young horses for racing fans to look out for? 

We have a bunch of nice 2yos coming through at the moment. My pick of the lot at this point would have to be Rohanna, a filly we bred by Starcraft out of our very first winner Manhattan Vixen.

Who do you admire most in racing?

I look up to Grahame Begg and Gavin Bedggood.

Who is your ‘what if’ horse? 

One horse I was very keen to buy and opted not to was Sacred Satono. He’s been a pretty good one; and was only a $35k purchase from Karaka.

What is one change/improvement you’d love to see in racing?

I’d love for our tracks to be presented as a soft 5 to begin the day during the summer. It might be a little edgy topic but I would also love for the tracks upgraded accurately rather than pretending they aren’t as ridiculously hard as they get sometimes. 

Which horse currently racing would you love to train? 

To be honest, I love training the horses we have. I get a tonne of enjoyment watching them grow and learn. Fingers crossed one day, one of our babies grows up to be a superstar. 

What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced in racing? 

Probably the good old days growing up at the farm watching Dad and Geoff Mummery doing ridiculous things to each other. 

What is your favourite racing moment/biggest thrill?

2006 Australian Cup when Roman Arch won at 80-1.

What is your favourite pastime outside of racing? 

Outside of racing?? Ha! Probably just hanging out with my many animals at the farm or going for a run. 

What is your favourite T.V show/movie/book?

TV show – the old Hey Hey It’s Saturday; watching back at the Glasscocks Road farm are etched into my memory deeply!

Movie – Ace Ventura When Nature calls or Dodgeball (explains my silly humour).

Book – anything to do with racing.

Best concert you’ve seen? 

Ash Grunwald at Byron Bay. 

What slogan summarizes your outlook on life? 

It’s not all gravy.

Favourite food? 

Good old steak and veg.

Favourite racecourse?

Sandown by a mile, everyone get their chance. 

If you weren’t a racehorse trainer what would you be doing?

I’d probably just be a degenerate pub going tradie!