A broken hand does not always mean positive things but for small-time trainer Sharryn Livingstone it meant that a career as a horse trainer came to be.
With no more than four or at the most five horses in work at any time, results matter and there is an element of anticipation about Click Click Boom’s return to the track at Ipswich on Thursday.
First-up since September, Click Click Boom lines up in the Schweppes Benchmark 65 Handicap over an 800-metre scamper.
“He hasn’t had a jumpout or trial but I did that last prep as well,” Livingstone said.
“I think he is going to be a better horse this prep so we’ll give him this little race over 800 and set plot a path for him.
“He really improved last prep and I feel that he’ll do that again. He’s a smart horse who doesn’t waste energy as he’s not gifted with the best front legs but he’s sound.
“If he was in a bigger stable, he may not have been given the time but time and patience has been the main thing.”
Bought for $27,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, the gelding by Queenslander Spirit Of Boom has done more than his part in setting a more than acceptable strike-rate for his trainer with three wins and five placings in 13 starts.
He has finished outside of the top four in all but one of those outings which is impressive enough for the Racing and Sports ratings climber who notched a figure of 94 when finshing at Gold Coast.
For Livingstone herself, Click Click Boom will be her 170th starter with her own winning strike-rate at 14% and 42% for placings.
With a family background in training, Sharryn spent most of her working life as a part-time track rider with another second job job, a broken hand in 2020 changed her direction.
“I hadn’t worked in a stable before, but when I had the injury I thought I should retire from track riding,” Livingstone added.
“When I got a horse called Heart Vanderlay, that’s when I thought I might as well become a trainer. I was winging it learning off other trainers and for now it is working.”Justin Stanley takes the ride on Click Click Boom on his return from injury which has seen him away from the track since July last year.
