Minter leans to Huss On First as pick of Dalby trio

By Glenn Davis

Dalby trainer Philip Minter can relate to the old saying - when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Minter is somewhat of a nomadic trainer having trained for many years at Coffs Harbour in NSW and then the state’s Northern Rivers before moving to north Queensland for many years and now Dalby for the past four months.

The 65-year-old is a one-man band operation training a team of eight and still rides trackwork despite a major knee reconstruction two years ago which sidelined him for six months.

A former jockey before weight cut short a promising career, Minter boasts winning two Listed races at Rosehill in Sydney as a trainer with Silent Impact in the 2001 Christmas Cup l and the Services’ Memorial Cup with Famous Dane in 2005.

“I trained in North Queensland for quite a while as my wife Beth is a schoolteacher and taught at Airlie Beach then we moved to Dalby,” Minter said.

“I was looking after my mother up north but after she passed away we decided to move to Dalby as Beth has family here.

“I had a knee reconstruction two years ago which put me out of action for about six months but I still manage to ride trackwork."

 

Minter won’t have to travel far to saddle his three starters on his home track at Dalby on Tuesday.

Huss On First will spearhead Minter’s attack in the Benchmark 65 Handicap and will be supported by Mister Selfie in the 0-55 Handicap and Hotfoot Performer in the Benchmark 60 Handicap.

Minter has given punters a lead by naming Huss On First as the pick of his trio despite not having started since tailing off last in a 1350-metre Class 4 at Ipswich in November.

“She won well at her previous two starts at Kilcoy and Warwick but she had trained off for her last run at Ipswich,” Minter said.

“I was going start her at Toowoomba a week or so ago but we stayed away because of the weather.

“I gave her a spell after her last run so my wife and I decided to also take a break and went on holidays to visit friends in Canada in December.

Huss On First had been in several barns before the six-year-old left Grafton trainer Cathy Chapman and has now won three times in only eight stables for Minter.

“I used to train for her owners who asked me if I’d take her on and I’ve now won three races with her,” he said.

“It’ll be race fitness which she might be lacking if she’s beaten.”