"Team Geran" set to pounce at Toowoomba

By Glenn Davis

Ever since he was a young boy, Corey Geran wanted to become a trainer.

The 26-year-old Geran is the son of popular Downs jockey Gary Geran while his mother Kylie Geran has been training for many years.

The mother and son team started a joint training partnership almost three years ago and have been such a success in the Toowoomba region that their stable numbers have grown to 40.

Corey Geran worked as a foreman for John Symons and Sheila Laxon while he gained dual degrees in business and law at the Sunshine Coast University.

He is now one of several trainers around the country that have attained university degrees, including Brisbane trainer Jack Bruce and Sydney’s Bjorn Baker and Joe Pride, to name a few.

On Saturday, "Team Geran" will be in action saddling up six starters at Toowoomba.

Geran rates Our Magnus in the Class 2 Plate over 1300 metres and Irish Sally in the 0-62 Handicap over 1640 metres as the stable’s best hopes.

Our Magnus has started nine times for two wins and four placings.

The son of Magnus has only had four starts for the Geran stable, winning at Toowoomba and Warwick at his first two starts, before a game second in a 1200 metre Benchmark race at Toowoomba on February 4.

The four-year-old is coming off a narrow defeat when second to the Mark Currie-trained Fun Sponge in a 1200 metre Class 2 event at Clifford Park three weeks later.

“He was a cheap buy by one of my major stable clients Chris Dwyer at an online Bloodstock Auction and he’s been very unlucky not to be unbeaten for us,” Corey said.

“He should have won his last start when he had a tough run.

“We think he’s a city class horse so all going well he’ll go through his grades then step up from there.”

Geran believes Irish Sally also is capable of going through her grades after winning her maiden over 1635 metres at Toowoomba on February 11.

“It’s a month between runs for her but she’s honest and very tough,” Corey said.

“She’s placed well in this race so hopefully she can win.”

"Team Geran" has been riding the crest of a winning wave this season with a 14 per cent winning strike rate with 34 wins from 242 starters.

“Mum and I have been going well and we had eight winners last month,” Corey said.