Minter's move to Dalby paying dividends

By Glenn Davis

Journeyman Philip Minter is hopeful his decision to relocate to Dalby last December will reap further rewards when he heads to Kilcoy with two starters on Thursday.

Minter was a popular trainer on the Northern Rivers of NSW for many years before he moved to North Queensland a few years ago.

“I moved to Dalby in December after I had just renewed my trainers’ licence a few weeks before,” Minter said.

“I trained for a long time at Coffs Harbour in the Northern Rivers before I moved to a property between Bowen and Proserpine in North Queensland.

“We lived for quite a while up there as my wife, Beth, is a school teacher and was teaching at Airlie Beach.

“I was looking after my mother before she passed away about 12 months ago and then I moved to Dalby as Beth has family here.

“I reckon Beth and I both have a bit of gypsy in us.”

Minter was a former jockey before weight forced him out of the saddle and he now has a stable of eight in work.

However, he still rides trackwork and does all the stable chores himself despite having a knee reconstruction, which sidelined him for two years.

“I used to be a jockey before weight problems hit me and I’ve done a lot of breaking in,” Minter said.

“Now I’m a one-man band after having a few years off following the knee reconstruction.

“I don’t have any staff and do everything myself including riding trackwork.”

Minter’s biggest wins were in two Listed races in Sydney with Silent Impact in the 2001 Christmas Cup at Rosehill and the Services’ Memorial Cup with Famous Dane in 2005.

Minter has booked Samantha Collett to partner his two runners on Thursday, Huss On First in the Benchmark 60 Handicap and Takara Star in the Benchmark 55 Handicap.

“Takara Star has been out of form a bit but she’s down in grade while Huss On First is my best chance,” Minter said.

Huss On First won at Warwick four starts back over 800 metres and is coming off a last start sixth in a 1000 metre Class 2 Handicap at Toowoomba on October 5.

“I’m stepping her up in distance to see if she can handle the trip by not over racing,” Minter said.

“She tends to pull in her races that’s why I’ve kept her to shorter races where there is a lot more speed on.

“She’s been a stirred-up horse in the past but she’s going better now so she should run a nice race.”