Babarovich going big game hunting in NQ

By Jordan Gerrans

Well-travelled hoop Jason Babarovich says the timing is right to transition into the next phase of his tenure in the racing industry in North Queensland. 

The 56-year-old has most recently been based at Mount Isa in the North West and has this week shifted to Townsville to pursue his training ambitions. 

Babarovich aims to ride in races for the remainder of 2025 before focusing on training on a full-time basis while also running a spelling facility in NQ. 

It is a homecoming of sorts for Babarovich as he was based in the northern city for two years around 15 years ago.

He will kick-off the new venture at Cluden Park on Sunday afternoon when promising galloper Room For Squares starts in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Babarovich and partner Melissa Bieri will manage a spelling property owned by prominent racing identity Peter Malpass.

“We were asked if we wanted to take it over and it came at the right time,” Babarovich said.

“I was looking to slow down with my riding and you need something to transition into; Peter is someone who has had horses with us for a few years. 

“The spelling farm is perfect and within a month, we will have it up and running and ready to go.

“It has its own track, swim and walker so I can train them from here, basically.

“I will just need to go into town to give them a gallop every now and again.

“We have got lots of yards here so hopefully we can get some interest in spelling.”

Babarovich spent almost eight years based in the North West after local racing participants Jay Morris and Dan Ballard recruited him to move to the area to look after their track while also riding in the bush city.

He spent time at Blackall and Townsville prior to being based in Mount Isa after starting his apprenticeship in Brisbane more than four decades ago. 

Babarovich rode an array of city winners earlier in his career while also competing in several Group events and also had a stint riding in Singapore in the early 2000s. 

He says he is content on winding up his career as a jockey as he has ridden in almost every state of Australia and won a number of feature events.

“I am still enjoying riding, but it gets a bit tougher when you get to this age,” he said.

“I might be longer in the tooth now, but I still think I can match it with them for the rest of the year.

“If I can get this spelling property up and running the way I think I can, it will give us something to carry me through until I am ready to retire completely.”

Babarovich – who has held a dual licence in recent years - and Bieri head to Townsville with six gallopers in work which they hope to swell to around 20 by early 2026. 

The veteran hoop is keen to lock in a stable jockey for his team as he winds down his own raceday appearances at the end of this year. 

Of his current crop of gallopers, the multiple Mount Isa Cup-winning rider says Room For Squares is the pick of the bunch.

The four-year-old gelding has won four of his six starts for the Babarovich team and gets his first look of Cluden Park from the seven alley on Sunday. 

“I think he can measure up,” he said.

“He is a pretty handy horse, I think. He is the type of horse that I will try and get ready for the Townsville Cup next year.”

Last Descend - who Bieri currently trains - is another horse he thinks can be competitive on the coast.

The son of Duporth returned from a long lay-off at McKinlay last Saturday. 

“A few of them may not be up to the standard of racing here but I think I have got a couple who go pretty good,” he said.

“There are non-TAB meetings here on the Saturdays as well which I think will be good, some of my horses will be good enough quality to win races there, places like Innisfail, Atherton and Bowen.

“I will bring in some new ones by the end of the year, I have got some clients who are keen to get horses.

“We will have a look around and hopefully get a few decent horses and then the winners.”