James isn't about to clip heals

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Adermann

Hard work and getting his hands dirty put Sunshine Coast trainer James Healy in the positive position he is in now. 

So, if he wants to take his in-form and growing stable to the next level, then the youthful horseman believes he just needs to work harder once again. 

On the back of the best couple of years of his short training tenure, the 30-year-old is set to double his presence at Corbould Park from 16 boxes to 32, which will dramatically expand his business operation.

There is no doubt Healy has earned the opportunity from the Sunshine Coast club. 

After mainly targeting horses toward provincial and country races in the infancy of his career, the up-and-coming trainer has become so much more prominent in the city arena in recent times. 

He has collected three city winners at Doomben dating back to late July. 

After working for top trainers such as Liam Birchley, Robert Heathcote and Ciaron Maher, Healy always dreamed of being in this position and now he gets the opportunity to seize his moment. 

“It is just a lot of hard work, knowing the horses and getting better cattle,” Healy said.

“We are very grateful from the club to get more boxes so that means I need to put my head down and work harder again.

“I need to build up the team and hopefully we can make it successful.

“We want to train as many winners as we can while also buying a lot more tried horses and get more support from the bigger ownership groups.

“A lot of my owners have stuck solid from the get-go, so it is about getting more clients and buying better horses on the online sales.”

Healy had a close association with multiple Group 1 champion Loving Gaby when he worked for Maher in Melbourne. 

The prominent ownership group of First Light Racing have long been supporters of Healy’s growing yard. 

“James is a young trainer but has a wealth of experience,” First Light Racing declared about Healy.

“James has a small team and he has been able deliver a more hands-on and one-on-one approach with his horses.”

The 2024-25 campaign was a key driver in Healy’s growth as a conditioner.

He collected 15 winners while striking at a touch over 15%.

It is the prizemoney tally of $411,980 that underscores his ascension to being competitive in the city.

He is edging closer to $200,000 in season stakes in the 2025-26 term with seven winners on the board so far.

Horses such as Mio Sorrento, The Irish and Chalice Well have all won in town in recent times.

The Irish was previously looked after by Hall of Famer trainer Lee Freedman before the stayer's ownership group opted to send him to Healy.

The gelding quickly won a Saturday event at Doomben and the Caloundra conditioner has high hopes for his coming preparation.

“We have had a lot of success with him so far, already,” he said.

“He has had three starts; he won by four lengths quite impressively over 2200 metres in his second start for us.

“We took him down to Randwick chasing the heavy tracks, but the races were called off the day we went down. He was probably ready to win that day. He ran a nice third in town at Eagle Farm following that.

“He grows a length on a wet track; he is probably five-length better horse. I have got no doubt he would still be effective on a harder track but not as effective as he could be.”

The Irish was back at the races on Wednesday of this week alongside two other runners from the camp.

Looking into Queensland's Summer Racing Carnival, Healy is eager to see Chalice Well and Arabian Rose at the track.

Chalice Well has run in the money on five occasions from seven attempts for Healy and he is hopeful the mare can aim up in Group and Listed events.

“She is a fast horse and tries hard,” he said.

“She will definitely make Saturday grade and hopefully some black-type over the carnival.

“She is in pre-training now and she is ready to come back this week. We will set some goals for her campaign.”

Arabian Rose has won three of her last five – with all the victories coming at Caloundra – and the trainer has plans to continue her winning ways on his home deck.  

“She is a very good horse and we never really had her right when she was winning, which is quite scary,” he said.

“She still ran well at Eagle Farm the other day despite not appreciating the way the track was playing. She has had a let-up for three weeks and she is back in work now.

“She will head to the Sunshine Coast on New Year's Day and hopefully win that and book her spot in the Sunshine Coast Cup later that month.”