By Garry Dell
Dual-licensee Jason Babarovich stole the show at Mount Isa's third meeting of the season on Saturday.
Babarovich, 54, landed four winners from four rides, including two trained by his partner Melissa Biere and one of his own.
A heart attack in 2012 while working as a track attendant at Townsville's Cluden Park put Babarovich out of the saddle for eight months, and led to a move from Mackay to Blackall where he was based for three years before moving to Mount Isa five years ago.
He began an apprenticeship with Eagle Farm trainer Ian Hocking at the age of 15 and had his first race ride at Gatton at the tender age of 16.
"I landed my first winner at my seventh race ride and I was on top of the world," he said at the weekend.
"I rode winners at Doomben, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and south-east Queensland tracks in my halcyon days.
"Ray McCall and I had great association and I recall one Rocky carnival where we had 16 starters for 13 wins, two seconds and a third.
"We won just about everything bar the Rocky cup.
"I went freelance for a few years before moving to Mackay and did a lot of travelling out to the western meetings.
"But after the enforced layoff I decided the travelling was too much and moved out to Blackall to work and ride for Charlie Prow for three years.
"I decided to move permanently to Mt Isa five years ago and recently took out a trainer's licence.
“Melissa and I have four horses in work between us and I pick up rides from other trainers at the far-flung places out here.
"It's a great life and profitable as well."
Babarovich’s early riding days stretch back to Townsville meetings more than 25 years ago, with many of his rides being for Cluden trainer John Robbins.
But it's the deadly combination with McCall which had bookmakers trembling during the Northern Carnivals.