By Glenn Davis
It’s been seven years since Eagle Farm’s Chris Anderson started his training career with a leased horse.
Now, Anderson, a former publican and beer salesman, has 44 horses in work including seven for Mayalsian-born billionaire and global property tycoon Dato Tan Chin Nam.
Anderson was also the State Manager for Independent Distillers before venturing into training.
His biggest success since taking out a licence came from Elegant Composure in the Listed Colin McAlpine Memorial at Eagle Farm in November, 2016.
Anderson is delighted to have received the backing in his career of Dato Tan Chin Nam whose famous colours were carried by champions such as Saintly and So You Think.
He has nominated Dato Tan Chin Nam’s Colour Of Money for the Benchmark 80 Handicap (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday but is unsure if the seven-year-old will start with the inclement weather and wet track.
Anderson has rapidly made a name for himself during his short career and is regarded as one of Queensland’s up and coming trainers.
But it hasn’t come easy for Anderson who worked in a full-time job whilst he gained experience training horses before taking out his own trainers’ license.
“I didn’t have a single client when I first started,” Anderson said.
“I had a $5,000 credit card and leased my first horse with a few friends.
“I am very proud to have built up my stable from nothing.
“I guess in times of hardship when you question your future, I remind myself that other highly successful trainers such as Chris Waller and Darren Weir also started from humble beginnings.”
His association with Dato Tan Chin Nam began by chance when the late Bart Cummings’s horses were stabled with him during the Brisbane winter carnival over several consecutive years.
“I formed a relationship over time with Duncan Ramage who manages Dato’s racing interests in Australia,” he said.
“Duncan and I recently formed a partnership to buy horses with Dato Tan and also involve some of my existing clients. We subsequently bought three yearling colts and a filly.”
Despite his success in Queensland, Anderson admits he has considered moving interstate in search of greater prizemoney.
“I’ve explored the possibility of moving south but I have a family with three kids and I really don’t want to move unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he said.
“I love Queensland but we really need an injection of funds so hopefully I don’t have to make a difficult decision if there’s no improvement in funds.”
Racing Queensland webnews October 16