New Wagga trainer Maddy Collins hopes Blazen Diamond can kick off her new career with a victory at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Sunday.
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Six years after taking her first job in racing, Collins will saddle up her first runner as an official trainer at Wagga.
Collins has a good grounding for a training career after spending time working for the likes of Brett Cavanough, the late Brian Cox, Andrew Dale and Scott Spackman.
The 24-year-old admitted a career in racing was not always on her radar.
"I used to event. I started working for J&S Equine and they were in with Brian Cox and they got me in with him," Collins explained.
"I wasn't really interested (to start with). I worked with Brett (Cavanough) because I needed a job when I was 18 and just out of school.
"But when I was working for Andrew (Dale) I really started to get interested in it. I worked for him for four years and then I got with Josh (Richards) and moved over here."
After six months as foreperson for Wagga trainer Scott Spackman, Collins successfully secured her licence this month.
She already has two nice horses to lead her team as she owns Gotta Want It and Blazen Diamond with Caroline Mackinnon.
"I'm so nervous though," Collins said about getting her licence.
"I was working with John Whitelaw there for a bit and he offered me a training partnership, and I was really keen on it, but then I moved. I thought I'm going to try and pursue it, because I've had an interest in for the last 12 months or so and I've got the horses."
Blazen Diamond will be Collins' first starter as a trainer when she contests the Jupiter Motors Gates Crash Back Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m). Her partner, and apprentice jockey, Josh Richards will take the ride.
"I think she's got a pretty good chance," she said.
"It's a decent field but going off her form, she's had a good freshen up and she's back to the 1200. She's carrying 60.5 kilograms, but she carried 61 last start and ran fourth, beaten about three and a half lengths. I think she's got a decent chance."
Gotta Want It will trial at Wagga on Sunday in preparation for a first-up bid at the $150,000 SDRA Country Championships Qualifier at Albury next month.
Collins is pinching herself she will start her training career with two Championships contenders.
"I know, it's crazy," she said.
"Luckily, Scott (Spackman) helped me heaps and we got the two wins with Gotta Want It and that got her benchmark up high enough for her to get a run.
"I probably couldn't have done it without Scott, he's helped me out a heap."
Gotta Want It was a $500 broodmare purchase who has gone on to win McKinnon and Collins $44,000 in earnings with three wins from six starts.
Blazen Diamond was purchased from the Darren Weir stable and has won two races and ran two seconds from seven starts for her new connections.
"Caroline knew I wanted to get my licence so she thought she would get another one in case Gotta Want It was a dud," Collins explained with a laugh.
"So she bought Diamond and they've both turned out pretty good. She's had six starts for me for two wins and two seconds.
Collins would like to target the Championships Qualifier with Blazen Diamond but will reassess her plans after Sunday.
"I think so. Because we're in the country, if she wins her benchmark's going to go up probably four points and we don't have a lot around here so you might as well have a crack at a $150,000 race," she said.
Gotta Want It is likely to have a second trial after Sunday leading into the race on February 22.
"That's always been her goal. Ever since she showed a bit of promise, she came out and won her third start, and then won two more in a row," she said.
"She's won over 1400 twice now so that's always been the goal with her."
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