McGrath’s Foreman Begins Training Career

Trainer Denise McGrath’s stable foreman, Jarrod Austin, will launch his own training career at Randwick racecourse tomorrow.

Austin has worked with McGrath for the last seven years and will now branch out on his own when he runs Yonderstar in tomorrow’s Pride Of Accountability Handicap.

“I had a trainer’s licence about 20 years ago but this is my first runner since,” Austin said.

“I planned on going out on my own at some stage and when Denise decided to step back it helped make the decision.”

McGrath is taking a break from racing to make way for a new project, but plans on making a return in the future.

“Absolutely, I love it too much,” McGrath said.

“I’m developing a property at Cobbitty and moving house and it was becoming too much to handle.

“Jarrod Austin has been with me as my foreman for a long time and wanted to get a licence and that enabled me to step back and concentrate on what I’m doing on this other side.

“I want to get that up and running so I’m focused on that now and I’ll get back to training afterwards.

“The horses have been transferred to Jarrod’s name and it gives him a chance to get started too.”

Austin is hopeful of Yonderstar’s chances, with the mare winning her last two provincial starts.

“I’ve been really happy with her lately and after those last two wins she deserves a crack in town,” Austin said.

“It’s a big step up in class for her, it’s going to be hard, but she’s got no weight on her back and I think she deserves a crack at them.”

The four-year-old will be ridden by apprentice jockey Shaun Guymer.

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