Former jockey lands maiden win as a trainer

By Jordan Gerrans

After more than a decade away from the racing game in an official capacity, it took a quick chat with an old riding mate for Jason Patton to dive back in.

The former jockey – who was successful in a Group 1 event in his riding days – has recently relocated to the Sunshine State and entered the second stage of his life in racing, taking out his trainers licence.

The 50-year-old has teamed up with fellow retired hoop Ernie Marchant to prepare a small team of gallopers on the Glitter Strip.

Patton is trainer by name, with Marchant helping out.

After starting their first galloper in a race in the first month of 2023, the Patton stable broke through for their maiden victory on Saturday afternoon at their new home track of Aquis Park.

Patton piloted more than 700 winners in his riding days – with more than 200 of those coming at metropolitan level – but admits it was a different feeling to grab his first triumph on the other side of the fence.

“It was fantastic and a great thrill,” Patton said.

“Obviously it is a different set-up training horses, you need to get them all right and spend a lot of time with them.

“Whereas as a jockey, you turn up and put your saddle on and go around.

“Training is about placing them but it was a great thrill on Saturday.

“A lot of my friends are in the horse so that makes it even more special.”

With the Gold Coast Turf Club in the middle of a $63 million redevelopment, the rookie trainer says it is an exciting time to be at the venue.

“In a year or so time, this will be an unbelievable place to train,” Patton said.

Patton gave up riding in races back in 2009.

He still stayed connected to the sport for some time by continuing to ride track work for Godolphin and the “Hawkes” camp.

After finishing up race riding, Patton turned his hand to the business world, running a rubbish removal company.

He still operates the business remotely from the Gold Coast following his return to the racing industry.

It was a conversation with Marchant – who rode more than 650 winners himself – that sparked Patton’s return to the sport.

“I have always wanted to train and I bumped into Ernie Marchant, who is another old jockey,” he recalls.

‘I used to ride with him and we decided to team up and go to the Gold Coast.

“We spoke about it a little bit and that is how it ended up. It is brilliant up here.”

Marchant and Patton started out with four boxes at Angela Plumb’s stables at Bundall before recently relocating to Peter Robl’s barn, where they have up to 10 boxes on offer.

The stable currently have four in work – as well as a couple of babies – which could soon expand with the new boxes acquired at Robl’s place.

It was former Victorian galloper – Zoomurudi – who handed the team their first winner.

The son of Deep Impact did not handle the Queensland way of going in his first hit-out in the Sunshine State earlier in April before blowing away his opposition by almost three lengths on Saturday afternoon.

The four-year-old had impressive form on synthetic surfaces in Victoria, which led Patton towards buying the galloper.

“He had won on the Polytrack at Ballarat and ran second at Pakenham as well so we thought he would be a good one for up here,” Patton said.

“We only paid for $12,000 for him online and he was a $260,000 yearling previously. 

“He obviously has not measured up to that level but he is perfect for us up here and a nice ride.

“He came to us in perfect condition from Amy and Ash Yargi. We are really enjoying him.”

There are a few options for Zoomurudi going forward, with the trainer considering keeping him on the Polytrack or heading to Caloundra for a 1800 metre race Class 2 in the coming weeks.

The stable collected three minor placings earlier this year before nabbing their maiden victory.