From a young age, Joe Ible was certain he would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a horse trainer.
The 26-year-old Canberra trainer has come a long way in the past four years, with 10 horses in work and ambitious plans for gelding Major Sharpe who races at Randwick on Saturday.
“I have always worked with horses and it is all I have ever wanted to do,” Ible told AAP.
The five-year-old gelding was bred by his father, Darrell Ible, who remains a part owner.
While Major Sharpe’s first preparation took a toll on the horse and he needed a six-month spell, Ible says he is running well and will hopefully now move up the ranks.
“We decided to give him a nice extended spell before bringing him back up and we are aiming to progress through the grades and look to something like the Country Championships next year,” he said.
If he runs well in Saturday’s Highway Hcp (1200m), Ible says he will step up to 1300 metres in another Highway at Rosehill on October 29.
“He ran a really nice second at Nowra. I was more than happy with his run and I think that topped off nicely for this Saturday,” he said.
“I think if he gets a better run in transit this time and he doesn’t have to do all the work himself he will be very hard to beat.”
Winona Costin, who has recently become a senior rider, has a strong relationship with the gelding having ridden him three times incluidng his maiden victory at Moruya in January.
“She has always done a lot of riding for me back in her apprentice days so she knows the horse well and gets along with him,” Ible said.
“I am more than happy to have her in the saddle.”