Walsh launches career as full-time trainer

By Glenn Davis

Rockhampton’s Nick Walsh is hoping to launch his career as a full-time trainer on a winning note when he heads to Callaghan Park with four runners on Thursday.

Walsh has only been training since the 2019-20 season and has built an impressive reputation in Central Queensland.

The 26-year-old worked for the past decade as a business development manager in Rockhampton while training part-time before resigning from his job recently to take up training on a permanent basis.

He grew up around horses and started off riding track work for fellow Rockhampton trainer Fred Smith while dabbling in pre-training before eventually taking out his trainer’s license.

“This meeting on Thursday will be my first as a full-time trainer,” Walsh said.

“I was a business development manager for 10 years before I resigned and decided to take up training permanently.”

Walsh, who has 16 horses in work, is currently striking at 34.3 per cent this season, well ahead of last season’s strike rate of 28.3 per cent.

“Things are going well and hopefully we can get a winner or two on Thursday,” he said.

Walsh will saddle Letmeletgo and Get What You Give in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres, Nondisclosure in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1600 metres and Fortress Australia in the Class One Handicap over 1300 metres.

Fortress Australia was previously trained in Sydney by James Cummings before making his Queensland debut for Walsh when second to Holy Crown in a 1300-metre Class One at Mackay on January 3.

“I think Fortress Australia is the best of my four as he’s on the way up and has a lot of ability,” Walsh said.

“I thought he would need the run that day as he was first-up and he pulled up big after the race."

Walsh is hoping to quinella the Open Handicap with apprentice McKenzie Apel retaining the mount on Letmeletgo while Justin Stanley partners Get What You Give.

Letmeletgo is chasing a hat-trick of wins after making a successful stable debut in a 1300-metre Open at Mackay on January 3 while Get What You Give finished fifth in his first start for Walsh in a 1200-metre Benchmark race at the same Mackay meeting.

“I got Letmeletgo off Jared Wehlow when he retired and he came to me in great order,” Walsh said.

“He was very impressive winning at Mackay and he’ll be hard to beat again.

“I think Get What You Give is a good lightweight chance as he’s down in the weights.

“I’ve learnt a lot from his first run and he’s improved from it.”