Breakthrough first training win with an old warrior

Harness racing was always in Maria Petricevich’s blood, but training winners was never really on her radar.

The South Australian horsewoman was quite content helping partner Shane Loone as a stablehand, until circumstances forced her to step into the role of trainer in her own right.

And earlier this month at Globe Derby Park, she celebrated her first victory, with veteran 11-year-old pacer Crookwell Jake (Rock N Roll Heaven).

“I’d have to say that it wasn’t really by choice – I was left with all these horses looking at me when Shane got his ‘holiday’,” Petricevich said.

“It was pretty stressful, and particularly financially with a lot of horses here all eating and not earning!

“The first months were hard because Shane previously did everything with the horses, and I was just the stablehand, so it was a big learning curve for me to learn to do everything myself.

“That might sound a bit negative, but the horses needed me, and I just stepped up out of necessity. But I have found I am really enjoying it! That first win was just so satisfying – and he went so close again at his next start it was unbelievable.”

Although her training career came by chance, Petricevich’s racing roots run deep. Growing up in Western Australia, she was surrounded by horses thanks to her grandfather Joe and father Len.

“I grew up helping pop and helping my dad, going to Gloucester Park, Pinjarra and all the other little tracks. It was probably inevitable that I would end up involved in the sport somehow,” she said.

“Pop had Beau Travis, who won a WA Pacing Cup in 1961, and some other good horses, while dad had a handy horse growing up, Imalulu, who won a lot of races and then became the family’s ‘kids’ horse’ – the horse we grew up with.”

Coincidentally, Len was visiting from WA when Crookwell Jake delivered Maria her first win.

“It was so lovely that dad was here with me when the horse saluted. He is still passionate about the races – he still listens on the radio to every race at Gloucester Park on a Friday night and he’s always ringing me up to check how they’re going or when the horse is in.”

Petricevich trains from her 23-acre property at Lower Light, balancing a busy stable with her full-time job as a veterinary nurse at a large animal facility.

“I’ve got eight in work and I like to train most of them out of the paddock, so there’s plenty to do! I’m up early to get them all done before work,” she said.

“My son Lachlan, who is 16, helps with feeding up at night, mucking out boxes or doing waters. And a friend Wayne Gowley has been fantastic, helping me at the trots or when something needs fixing. He’s there whenever I need an extra set of hands because working full time it’s hard to get to everything.”

Crookwell Jake is the first of her team to hit the track, but more are waiting in the wings.

“I have a couple of others that are almost ready to race. We also have quite a few young ones here because we stood Tinted Cloud at stud a few years ago and we bred a few from him. They’re coming through now and are lovely natured horses. I hope I can get a few to the trials in the near future.”

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink