In Brief
- Frenchman lands on his feet in Tasmania.
- Delon snares a winner with first starter as trainer.
- Racing is now a family affair.
WHEN Gaeton Delon arrived in Tasmania seven years ago he was oblivious to horse racing.
The former Frenchman even admitted he was “scared of horses” when he first stepped foot in a stable on the North-West Coast.
But in Devonport yesterday Delon captured his first winner as a trainer at his first attempt to suggest he has a bright future at the caper.
The aptly named Gamble in Paris (David Pires) delivered a brilliant first-up effort to score an emphatic win in the Goodstone Group 3YO Maiden over 1150 metres.
Delon’s seven-year journey that led him to training in his own right is a result of a friendship he developed with top mentor John Keys who runs a breeding-training operation at Wesley Vale.
Trainer Gaetan Delon (right) with son Wesley, part-owner Heather Colgrave and jockey David Pires after Gamble in Paris won a maiden in Devonport.
When Delon, 26, arrived in Tasmania in December 2013, he was looking for work and found employment at Keys’ property.
“I knew nothing about horses, and I was a bit afraid of them (horses) first-up, but I was keen to work and John (Keys) began teaching me to ride and he taught me about the horse racing business,” Delon said.
“I eventually took up being a farrier and that became my main source of income, but I was very keen to be a trainer and John was a fantastic teacher.”
Delon not only fell in love with Tasmania and the racing game, he also fell in love with Keys’ daughter Amber and together they have a son, Wesley.
“We just moved into our new house, so this has been a fantastic week for our family.”
Gamble in Paris had his first start in the Tasmanian Magic Millions 2YO Classic in February, which was to be his first start for Delon, but a delay with paperwork prevented the horse from running in his name.
“He is a nice horse that has ability, and hopefully he can win again.”
Watch Gamble in Paris win a maiden in Devonport last Sunday.