Healy hoping new on-course stables will boost career

By Glenn Davis

Emerging trainer James Healy has learnt off some of the best in the country and is hoping a move to new on-course stabling at the Sunshine Coast will be a further boost to his fledgling career.

Healy only started training four years ago after turning his back on a career as a veterinarian while studying at Gatton University and will move into his new stables from Sunday.

He began working in Brisbane for various high-profile trainers including Rob Heathcote, Liam Birchley and the recently retired Barry Baldwin before joining the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team in Melbourne.

Healy trained his first metropolitan winner when Critical Thinker won on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track in July 2022, but success in the city has been slow over the past two years.

His only other metropolitan winner came from Deferential who won at Eagle Farm in October of last year.

It’s been a long time between drinks for Healy in the metropolitan arena as he chases his third city win when he saddles Pireonti in the Class Three Plate and Deferential in the Benchmark 70 Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Ryan Maloney has been booked for Deferential while apprentice Emily Lang partners Pireonti.

“I’ve just been staying in the lane with the cattle I’ve got so far,” Healy said.

“But I’ve got good owners like First Light who have horses with Rob Heathcote and Tony Gollan and I move into on-course stables at Caloundra from next Sunday.

“I’ve been training out of stables which are just across the road at Caloundra since 2021 and I’ll have 16 boxes when I move on-course.

“The Sunshine Coast Turf Club gave me the opportunity when some trainers here were downsizing so I grabbed the opportunity.”

Healy has trained two doubles and a Saturday winner this season and is confident both Pireonti and Deferential will be competitive on their home track.

Pireonti is coming off a last start second when nosed out by the Louie Peoples-trained Half Listening in a 1600-metre Benchmark race on the Poly Track at the Sunshine Coast on January 12.

“I’d love to have a full stable just like her as she’s so tough and has that will to win,” Healy said.

“She didn’t jump as well as we expected last start and was caught wide.

“This is a step up in grade for her but she’ll be right in the finish.

“It could be her last run this campaign but she’s done a good job coming off an injury break when she suffered bone bruising when trained down south.”

Healy currently has eight horses in work and is hopeful Deferential also will be hard to beat when he steps out for the first time since tailing off last in a 1200-metre Class Three at Eagle Farm in early November.

“He’s first-up but he’s been trialling and working super,” Healy said.

“This is the best he’s come back from a break and he’ll be flashing home if there’s enough speed in the race.

“He’s not the finished product yet and does a lot wrong but he’s got a good future.”