Racing trainer Jack Laing eager for more Queensland success

A rising Sunshine Coast trainer who could have become a plumber knew he was in the right profession after a night at the casino with top jockey Hugh Bowman.

Sunshine Coast trainer Jack Laing. Picture: Instagram.

The son of Group 1-winning trainer Robbie Laing is confident about his winning chances at the Sunshine Coast while still being a relative newcomer to Queensland’s training ranks.

After leaving school and completing a plumbing apprenticeship, Jack Laing quickly took up a job as a stable hand for his father.

A few months later the stable’s star colt Polanski won the 2013 Group 1 Victoria Derby, Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes and Listed Uci Stakes, quickly amassing more than $1.6m in prize money.

“After the Derby we went to Crown Casino with jockey Hugh Bowman and a few of the owners and it was just such a euphoric moment winning such a massive race on a big day of the carnival which gave the stable plenty of attention,” he said.

“There were so many possibilities flowing through our minds and I absolutely thought this was the career for me.

“Over time you have extreme highs and very low lows but I just got addicted to the industry and the ever changing possibilities.”

Sunshine Coast trainer Jack Laing (middle) with champion jockey Hugh Bowman (left) and star trainer Chris Waller (right). Picture: Facebook

The 26-year-old began training solo in 2019 but decided to relocate to Caloundra in February 2023.

“When I was working under dad I started to pick the brains of other trainers and once I realised I was getting 80 or 90 per cent answers to the preconceived idea I had, I was of the opinion I was ready to go out on my own,” he said.

Laing said his “beer budget” was enough to get his stable in Victoria up and running but figured a move to Queensland could reward him with more consistent performances.

“There’s a lot of races where the horse could be absolutely perfect on their hay day but say a Peter Moody or a Ciaron Maher would present some $800,000 first starter that won a trial by 20 lengths and you watch your horse run a nice second or third but get rolled by a $1.20 favourite,” he said.

“It got to the point where I wasn’t happy to just tread water, I want to be at the top one day and figured a move to Queensland could allow me to win more frequently.”

Sunshine Coast trainer Jack Laing alongside jockey Michael Poy. Picture: Facebook

Laing currently has 14 runners in his stable.

“I’d say things are tracking well, I’ve had three winners and a number of placings since being here and had my first winner came in at $151 which had my mates filthy as I didn’t give them the tip,” he said.

He said No Surrender was a genuine Saturday horse and was excited to see the performances of Lady Tempest.

“Besides those two there’s another nice two-year-old by Stapphanos and then I’m very excited by my two new yearlings that have a hint of quality from stock I haven’t had before,” he said.