Leap Of Faith Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
Luke Edwards joined the 100 club on Tuesday night at Gloucester Park when Dont Goin Thewater brought up the stables 100th training success just 13 years after it all started for the now 35-year-old.
“I’ve been stuck on 99 for about a month or so, the last couple of times I’ve been at the trots I’ve thought I’d be close but last night was the night.” Edwards said.
Gaining his licence in 2013, Luke Edwards celebrated his first training win the following season, with 2013/2014 seeing the then early 20’s horseman train two winners from just 27 starters.
“My uncle, Rob Simmonds, basically he had a horse with Kevin Keys called ‘The Rain’ and I had always watched racing and bet on racing and stuff, and it wasn’t until one Saturday we didn’t have any work on, so I actually went out to Kevin Keys property and just hung out at the stables for a Saturday morning, and I never left.
“I never knew how to brush a horse or rug a horse before then.
“I started going every Saturday morning that I could and a few hours before work every day and eventually I found my way into harness racing.”
His training operation really ramped up in the following years, with 137 starters and 16 winners throughout the 2016/2017 season, but it was a filly by the name of August Moon who gave him his biggest win as a trainer to date, when she took out the Group 1 2023 3YO WA Oaks, an incredible achievement for a relative ‘new’ trainer to the ranks.
“I’ve had a lot of special horses that I think built parts of the story along the way.
“Like Leap Of Faith, she was probably the first import that we brought over, she strung a few together early on and she was an Easter Cup and I think she’s the sort of horse that got the ball rolling as a professional standpoint in my training career, for sure.”
Edwards has taken a bit of a step back in terms of the size of his stable in recent times, with a manageable 12 horses in his care currently, it’s a decision he’s very content with.
“I’ve cut back to more of a hobby now and just train for my close family and friends, and I think I’m enjoying it more than having it solely as a business model.
“I think there’s less pressure on the horses and it’s more enjoyable having it as a hobby more so than our business.”
Edwards mentioned he’s excited about Everywhere Man this preparation and expects to see him back at trials in just a couple of weeks.
The three-year-old has had just four race starts for three placings but was sent out for a spell after his last start where he broke.
Unexpectedly, Edwards is hopeful he should have a few two-year-olds in his stable for next seasons juvenile races.
“I didn’t think I would have any juveniles next year but some of the owners spent up pretty big at the sales, so they’re pretty exciting.”
