Roon finds her groove with Jain

By Jordan Gerrans

Hidden away at Wondai in the South Burnett, self-described ‘little bush trainer’ Kristen Roon might just have the most in-form team in the Sunshine State.

Since the new racing season commenced, Roon has taken six runners to the races and has collected four winners and a second-place finish.

While it is only a small number of starters she has produced so far in season 2024-25, Roon has a strike-rate of 67 per cent when it comes to winners and 83 per cent finishing in the money.

All six of those runners have been with the same horse – resurgent mare Jain.

The five-year-old daughter of Drumbeats has been to the races on a dozen occasions so far this year for six victories and three other minor placings.

The mare started her racing journey with Lawrie Mayfield-Smith before Roon took her over in late 2022.

She had 14 starts for Roon before the start of this year.

While she won her maiden and was placed on a few other occasions, Roon’s decision to put a tongue tie on her stable star at the beginning of 2024 has changed Jain’s fortunes dramatically.

“She just seems to perform a lot better with it – that is literally all I have done different to what I was doing beforehand,” the young horsewoman said.

“She has only put in two poor runs this year and on both occasions she had excuses.

“She has had very good excuses when she has not run into the prize money this year. She seems to be flying at the moment.”

Stabled on the track at Wondai, Roon has had a licence for a touch over a decade and is on track to post a career-best season with plenty of months to go.

It is a sizeable achievement for the 32-year-old who rides all her own trackwork as well as working a full-time job during the day away from the gallopers.

She prepares a team of three with Vizone and Hewrecked'em stable mates to Jain.

Vizone is just back from a spell and is now back in work while Hewrecked'em is on the comeback trail from injury.

“It gives me time to spend with the horses and give them the attention they need,” she said of her three gallopers. 

“They all have their own personalities when you have a little team of horses. My dad gives me a hand with the horses as well which is a big help.”

While Roon has had success over the years with horses such as Allena and Vizone, among others, the recent run of fun she is having with Jain is making all the long, hard hours’ worth it.

“It is very nerve-racking going to the races now,” she said, as the galloper is starting to become well-known around her area.

“But, I do feel like I have accomplished something with her, it definitely makes you feel good. And, it shows you can do it as a trainer with the right horse.

“We are enjoying what we do with the horse.”

Roon is stabled alongside veteran Wondai horseman Neville O'Toole.

O'Toole has been based at Wondai for the best part of 30 years and still rides his own trackwork for his small team of a couple of gallopers at a time.

He once prepared a team of almost 20 and trained on a full-time basis.

O'Toole has big wraps on Roon as a conditioner.

“She is doing a great job with that mare,” O'Toole said.

Roon notes O'Toole has been key to her development as a trainer as he has given her plenty of pointers about her team and believes that is why some of her horses have improved in recent times.

Roon is taking several members of her immediate and extended family along for the ride with Jain as co-owners.

Jain has been able to pick off lower Benchmark races in recent months but now with seven victories from 29 starts, she is likely to now need to step up to open company against the seasoned gallopers.

Jain's last victory was on her home deck on Saturday over the speedy 850 metres in Benchmark 60 grade with apprentice Ty Wheeler in the saddle.

Jain is likely to have a couple more runs in the back end of 2024 before having a break over the warmer summer months.

“I am letting Jain tell us when she is ready for her next start,” she said.

“She is loving being in work and was very excited a few days after that race on Saturday.

“She was keen to get out in the paddock for the day. She is showing no signs at the moment that she needs a spell.”