Jarred Coetzee goes his own way

By Jordan Gerrans

Jarred Coetzee became a regular face at the races as a representative for a major Brisbane stable over the last few years and he will head to the track in an entirely new capacity on Friday afternoon.

The 39-year-old cut his teeth in the South East Queensland racing scene as the second-in-charge at Robert Heathcote’s Eagle Farm barn and was often his raceday spokesman after a winner.

The South African-born Coetzee has in recent months decided to branch out on his own and launch his own racing team.

The well-travelled horseman will have his first starter in a race on Friday afternoon at Ipswich when maiden runner Gas Brigade faces the starter.

It is a humble beginning for Coetzee’s own training career after being involved with several high-profile gallopers at Heathcote’s yard, including Rothfire, Abounding, Startantes and Ekaterina, among others.

Coetzee has picked up a few boxes at Lawrie Mayfield-Smith’s stables as he aims to build out his team, starting with Gas Brigade.

“Lawrie has been kind enough to give me some stables and he's been a good role model in a sense these last couple of months,” Coetzee said.

“He has helped me just to get going, he's been kind enough to give me a couple of good stables at his place.

“It is Gas Brigade’s second prep since I bought him online for Malaysian clients.

“He's always shown signs of ability; he just hasn't really put it away yet. So, he's been quite the frustrating horse. He does everything right and he is sound.

“He's got ability, he just doesn't know how to put it away.”

In Coetzee’s early days at Heathcote’s stable, there was talk that they eventually may go into a training partnership.

Those plans eventually shifted and the enthusiastic horseman has since decided to go it alone.

He is the nephew of former champion South African jockey Felix Coetzee, who won numerous Group 1s in Hong Kong.

Coetzee's father Kevin, who trained a stable of horses, introduced him to the sport.

He says Kevin has been his greatest mentor when it comes to being a horseman.

Coetzee was a foreman and rode work for five years for Chris Waller as well as riding trackwork in Hong Kong.

Coetzee trained for about a year in China for the China Horse Club before he came to Australia and also had a five-year stint with Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer.

He travelled a horse to the USA at one stage.

“I've been around the world and worked with some really good trainers and really well-known trainers,” he said.

“And, to be honest, you learn a lot from even the small guys and you learn a lot of what not to do. So, I feel like I've definitely gathered enough experience to have a crack at it myself.

“I've never had a problem with the horse side of things; it’s a lot more behind the scenes and running the business is what I need to learn.

“But, as far as the horses go, I'm keen enough and really excited to keep going. But, it's a funny game - you never stop learning.

“I'm sure I'll still make plenty of mistakes as a trainer. But, it's time to go out on my own.

“I feel like I've had the base and the knowledge behind me to have a crack.”

Gas Brigade is still a maiden after 14 attempts and has been through the hands of three different stables in recent months trying to crack a victory.

The four-year-old gelding ran some fair races earlier in his career when based in Victoria.

Coetzee thinks the 1666 metre assignment on Friday will be a nice building block for Gas Brigade.

Coetzee has been exercising Gas Brigade at Doomben and the trainer has been riding trackwork for other trainers at the facility.

He is keen to add to his stable in the coming months but is content starting out with Gas Brigade for now.

Coetzee thinks his previous experience at Eagle Farm will only help in his new venture.

“Especially in a racing jurisdiction like this, you've got to adapt to every environment you're in and Queensland is very much unique in its own, especially the climates and all that,” he said.

“I was in a management role, so I got to know a lot of the jockeys and the participants in the game and had made some good mates along the way.

“So, they've all been good to help me get going. 

"That was a good grounding to get going too.”