Top trainer Chris Anderson is in career best form this season

Star trainer Chris Anderson has jumped into the top 10 metropolitan standings but admits he “never planned on settling in the racing industry in the first place”. Read why:

Queensland racing trainer Chris Anderson has rocketed into the top 10 on the Metropolitan trainers leaderboard but says he “never planned on settling in the racing industry in the first place”.

Although his family has a strong tradition in thoroughbreds the former national beer manager said he never chose that path after graduating from high school.

“My cousin, my uncle and my grandfather were all horse trainers, but after I left school I got involved in the liquor industry,” he said.

“After some time I was promoted to a national beer brand manager, which I think is one of the best jobs in the world as I travelled Australia and basically got paid to drink beer.”

Trainer Chris Anderson with Profit who took out the Class 6 Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on January 29. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Anderson said he knew deep down he couldn’t stay away from his true passion of horses.

“At the conclusion of that position I ended up leasing the Orient Hotel in Brisbane and that actually allowed me to go and work for free for some trainers, which I did,” he said.

“I worked for free in the racing industry for about five years just to get a feel for it and understand how everything worked.

“I ended up taking a leap of faith of getting my trainer’s licence, which led me to leasing out what was one unbelievably slow racehorse.”

Sporting legend Alfie Langer and trainer Chris Anderson with Gemelon Bolt. Picture: Tara Croser

The father of three said he still laughed about it and apologised to his mates for getting them to buy shares in his stable’s first starter, Imagined, but couldn’t be prouder of how far he had come in the industry.

“I’ve been training for 10 years now and effectively we started with one horse and now we’ve got close to 80 on our books,” he said.

“When I started in racing I had three kids under the age of two and a full-time job, so it’s been bloody hard work to get to this stage but hopefully it’s just the start.”

Trainer Chris Anderson (left) with jockey Tegan Harrison as they celebrate winning the Pink Ribbon Cup at the Gold Coast. Picture: Trackside Photography

Anderson currently sits in 10th position on the Queensland trainers metropolitan leaderboard and holds a strike rate of 16.4 and 37.3 per cent from 67 starts.

He said his attention to detail from other leading trainers had been a reason for his success so far.

“I listen to absolutely everyone that I see or hear for advice or suggestions,” he said.

“I’ve sat down and listened to trainers on Sky Racing on a Saturday afternoon and I remember Peter Snowden explaining how they finally worked out that Redzel is a much better horse when he runs spaced out over a month or so.

“Little things like that or little gear changes are interesting as no two horses are the same and no two days are the same, but working that out is half the fun in this industry.”

He said his aim for this season was to remain in the top 10.

“I’d love to obviously continue to be in the top 10 at the end of the season and my expectation season after season is to continue to climb up that ladder,” he said.

“I think my career is a long way from hitting its peak and hopefully in another 10 years, that’s where we’ll be.”

Originally published as Top trainer Chris Anderson is in career best form this season