Rookie trainer ready for debut after Chillemi guidance

Photo credit: Mike Mills

By Jordan Gerrans

After almost six years under the guidance and tutelage of one of North Queensland’s greatest ever trainers, Louise Terzi is ready to dip her toes into the training arena herself.

Terzi has long been respected trainer Roy Chillemi’s stable foreman and on their home track of Atherton this Saturday, have her first ever starter as a licensed trainer in her own name.

Terzi is a regular face at NQ racetracks, often strapping for Chillemi, and has been a key part of his team for almost six years, pre-training his horses, riding some work and everything else that goes along with being the stable foreman.

While she has taken out her own licence, that does not mean Terzi will stop working for Chillemi – aiming to train a few horses on the side.

With Chillemi having 15 Cluden Park trainers’ premierships to his name, as well as countless other feature races and premierships from around the north, it has been a perfect environment for Terzi to learn in.

“Louise is getting better and better as she goes along,” Chillemi said.

“She has listened and learnt since she has been with me, hopefully I have been able to teach and show her the right way to do things.

“From the time she has started with me until now, she has improved a heap and she is ready to have a go with one of her own.”

Terzi was born into the racing industry, her father training in Mount Isa and the west of the state, and has been around gallopers since before she turned 10.

“I have been looking to get some of my own for a while, keeping my eyes out for something that looked worthwhile to have a go with first-up,” she said.

“At some point, I would love to have my own stable going, but I think that is a way off yet.”

The rookie trainer has developed a close bond with Chillemi over the years and says she will continue to work for him for as long as he remains training.

The man who found Tyzone before he went on to win the 2020 Stradbroke Handicap turns 72 this year and is at the back end of the training, but is sure to have a few more good years left in him.

“I have learnt so much from Roy over the years, he has taught me a lot, as did my father, who trained out of Mount Isa when I was younger,” Terzi said.

“I have always wanted to have some of my own but as long as Roy is training, I will keep working for him, because he is such a good man and one of the best bosses I have ever had.

“He takes care of me and we take care of each other – slowly, slowly I will look to build my own stable.”

Chillemi noted that Terzi’s start to her training career is much like his was many a decade ago, starting out with just one horse and eventually building into a bigger team as experience and success comes.

Mare Sogni will be Terzi’s first starter as a trainer, a five-year-old who was previously with Dale Groves at Toowoomba.

The winner of three career races has been in the north for two-and-a-half months and heads to Saturday’s Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1100 metres for her first-up assignment for her new stable.

Terzi says she has been happy with Sogni’s work and fitness and has booked local jockey Nor Yadi for the ride.

“She won three provincial races in a row down south when she was first starting out,” she said.

“Dale was keen to continue training her but the owners wanted to move her on.

“Fortunately, I got her.

“I have changed her training schedule up here, I have kept her fresh, so hopefully it works out - we will see how we go.

“There are good horses in this race Saturday so we will see how she goes, but she has been working well.”