Ed O'Rourke is a name most punters wouldn't know but over the coming season will start to appear in more formguide so we spoke to the young Irishman to learn a bit more about him.
O'Rourke is 32 and came to Australia in his mid-20s to further develop his training dreams which earlier this year landed him in charge of the boxes vacated by his former boss Michael Freedman.
"I grew up on a farm back home on a dairy farm in County Wexford. We also bred horses, National Hunt horses," O'Rourke said.
"After school I went to work for Jessica Harrington, one of the leading National Hunt trainers in Ireland. I rode a bit, rode a handful of winners but wasn't too successful at that.
"I went back home and managed the farm for dad, training young jump horses and selling them to England.
"I decided to come to Australia to learn more about flat horses and got a start with Gai (Waterhouse).
"I learned very quickly the industry here is thriving, a lot more money and I wanted to be a part of it.
"I did nearly five years with Gai, a small amount of time with David Hayes, Anthony Cummings and John Thompson too.
"I was approached by Michael Freedman to join him last year and become his assistant trainer. For me it was a big move to leave Gai but we had a great season considering we started out with no tried horses whatsoever."
In February this year Freedman was granted a licence in Hong Kong for the new season which starts next month leaving O'Rourke and his other start looking for a new job.
"When Michael told us he was going to Hong Kong he spoke to me and told me 'don't go back, move forward. This is your opportunity now'," O'Rourke said.
"He spoke to a few a few of the owners and asked them to back me.
"Michael was a big part of this and it's been fantastic. I've been blown away by the support."
Once O'Rourke decided it was worth a crack the next stage of the process was to get boxes and with the support of Freedman and some hard-hitting owners the young trainer with no previous experience with his name on the door approached the Australian Turf Club.
"I never dreamed that I'd be getting into Randwick but it just shows you never know what can happen," he said. "You have to ask, you can't be afraid to ask and sometimes you'll be surprised what they say."
So far O'Rourke has saddled up four runners with his last two finishing third and second. He heads into Saturday's Kembla meeting with his confidence levels high that Boomtown Rat, the horse that finished third at Wyong on August 4, could become his first winner.
The three-year-old son of Rock 'N' Pop contests the Sutherland Shire Tiles 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m).
"He's a horse we've always had a rap on," O'Rourke said.
"The biggest job with him has been to get him under control. He's was a bit too keen but he's come the right way now.
"His first-up run was good. He's improved from that run and Saturday's race suits him much better, especially the bigger track at Kembla.
"He will run well on Saturday and I think he's going to be a very good horse come the autumn."
Kegan Latham takes the ride aboard Boomtown Rat on Saturday.
