Toowoomba trainer turns around fortunes of $400k bust

SHAUN Dwyer Jnr makes a winning start to his career as a trainer with an extraordinary tale.

Trainer Shaun Dwyer Jnr with his winning horse La Jument. Picture: Kevin Farmer

RACING: It seemed like destiny would always lead Shaun Dwyer Jnr to the training ranks.

The son of group one winning trainer and former Clifford Park premiership winner Shaun Dwyer, it was only a matter of time before Dwyer Jnr took the plunge into the ranks.

After obtaining his licence late last year, Dwyer Jnr finally had his first runner a fortnight ago, with La Jument giving him the dream debut at the Sunshine Coast.

Despite racing blood flowing through his veins, things might’ve panned out differently for the 29-year-old had fortunes fared differently.

“I always thought I’d end up playing professional sport or something, but with injuries it didn’t work out,” he said.

“I was playing first XV at Nudgee College, and all was going well until I broke my pelvis and dislocated my hip. If it wasn’t for that I probably wouldn’t have got into training, so it was a blessing in disguise in some ways.

“I went down to Victoria after I finished school when dad moved down there a fair while ago. I just loved being around the horses and learning off him.

“He told me to bugger off overseas and get some more experience, so I went over to England to work for a few studs and try and get a bit more knowledge of the animal.

“It was more working on the genetics of the European horses and trying to get an insight into them.

“I was assistant trainer for dad for a while, and then I came up here for Christmas with my mum’s side, met a girl and then stayed.

“I just missed the horses too much. I was working for Kevin Kemp and thought I may as well get my license.”

That officially started Dwyer Jnr’s journey into the ranks, before a trip to Victoria would give him a horse once touted as a Golden Slipper hopeful.

La Jument was purchased for $400,000 by the China Horse Club syndicate and was sent to Peter Snowden, however after three lacklustre trials in Sydney, was sold back to Inglis.

That’s when the gelding was purchased for just $8000 in a move that would send him to the sunshine state.

“Dad sent me up a horse by Dutch Harry, who he trained years ago, which I’ve syndicated to my old football club in Brisbane (Brothers),” he said.

“I went down to Bendigo for the cup and on the way back my best mate’s dad told me to have a look at this horse.

“It was a big, fat, long-backed thing in the paddock. I thought he was a nice-looking horse.

“He told me it was a Fastnet Rock that had never raced. He was just sitting in their paddock until 10 weeks ago.”

Then on February 16, the horse that was destined for a life in the paddock, was able to complete the rare feat of winning a maiden at his first start as a six-year-old, in the process giving Dwyer Jnr the honour of training a winner with his first starter in a race.

“His last jumpout he carried about 80kg. There was a few with lighter weights being scrubbed up while he was just cantering,” he said.

“I nursed him along because we weren’t sure if he had previous injuries, but everything I’ve thrown at him he’s caught it and thrown it back.

“(Jockey) Brad (Stewart) said to keep him at the distance (1200m) for now and then step him up to a mile.

“I can’t tell you how excited my partner (Carly) was. She’s never been around horses or been a horse person, but when she came to the races, she was ecstatic.

“I owe a lot to her and her parents.”

While Dwyer Jnr would love to build his stable into a powerhouse, he is happy to get off the ground first.

“I’d love to have 20 in work, 20 at the pre-trainer and 20 in the paddock, but training these days is hard work,” he said.

“Whoever thinks the game is easy is kidding themselves.”

La Jument is hoping to make it two wins from as many starts tonight when again running at the Sunshine Coast.

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