Oliver chasing his first win as a trainer in Brisbane

By Glenn Davis

It was in the middle of March a decade ago when an up-and-coming young apprentice named Josh Oliver rode his first metropolitan winner in Brisbane.

It was aboard the Peter and Will Hulbert-trained Endless Days in a two-year-old race at Doomben on March 16 of 2016.

The Kiwi-born Oliver had been in Australia just over 12 months to start a new riding career in Toowoomba after previously being indentured to Graeme Rogerson in New Zealand.

Among his best wins were two Listed races aboard Col ‘N’ Lil in the Weetwood Handicap and Without A Promise in the Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast, both in 2017.

However, weight problems eventually brought an end to Oliver’s time in the saddle but his love of racing never let him.

He eventually turned to training two years ago and led in his first winner when True Patriot won at a non-TAB meeting at Stanthorpe in October of 2024.

The 30-year-old Oliver has six horses in work at Toowoomba and now has a career strike-rate of almost 12% with eight wins and 15 placings from only 65 starters.

His season statistics are similar with a strike-rate of 9.1% with two wins and eight placings from 22 starts.

Oliver will head to Doomben on Wednesday hoping to land his first city winner in Brisbane with his first runner as a trainer.

His hopes of another career milestone rest with Snitzond in the Colts, Geldings and Entires Class 3 Handicap over 1350 metres.

Snitzond is coming off a last start second Downey in a 1200 metre Class 3 Plate at Toowoomba on March 7.

“We got him for $3,500 after he was spotted by Baylee Nothdurft when he was down south for Tony Gollan,” Oliver said.

“He’s only had nine or so starts for me and has always been in the money.

“We’ve won about $50,000 with him so he’s been a good money spinner.

“He deserves his chance in town as he’s fit and is racing well and the horses that have beaten him of late have all gone on to race well in the city.

“I’ve never had a metropolitan starter in Brisbane so hopefully it’s an omen he can win 10 years after I won my first city race as an apprentice.”