Anthony Varga has affably taken the next step in his harness racing career and is now a successful trainer in his own right after producing his first stable winner at last Thursday's Tamworth harness meeting.
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"I have always wanted get the trainers licence," said Varga who commenced as a reinsman at the tender age of 16.
Roll forward the years and the now 30-year-old is about to establish his own training stables.
"I thought it was about time to have some fun. Dad (John) and I have got a couple of horses. Normally Dad breeds them but we decided to go out and buy a couple," he said.
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Varga made the purchase of Navua Girl and Mac Stubborn from the The Lagoon based stables of Steve Turnbull.
"Steve said we would have some fun with both of the horses," Varga added.
Navua Girl was the first to make a return to the bank account with the Sportswriter-Vin Cere mare winning the Piper Street Vet Clinic Pace on debut for the stables, with Varga taking the reins himself.
From the three barrier Varga and Navua Girl gained some racing "luck" in the early stages of the race when Money Matters (Scotty Jon Welsh) broke stride on the first turn.
"The horse breaking came into my favour as I was three wide and there was enough room for us to slot into the running line which then made us closer to the field," added Varga, who was then content to race three back in the outside running line.
The Ron Neal-trained Glen Innes Boy (Chris Shepherdson) led the field with Varga making his race move at the 600 mark behind Navua Girl, who travelled three wide for the remainder of the 1980 metre journey.
"They (field) were going slow early in the race and that's why I had to go a bit earlier," he said.
"We got going at the 600 mark and she came home good - very happy with the run."
"When I got to the lead, I knew I had them covered but Mick (Formosa) worried me when he was coming fast."
Formosa was driving Got The Scoop for the Ernie Mabbott stables who made a dash up the inside running line.
But Navua Girl held on for a head win over Got The Scoop and Glen Innes Boy was placed third a further 2m away.
Incidentally when Varga commenced in the sport of harness racing his mentor was Mabbott.
"Ernie was there to congratulate me on my first winner," he said.
As a junior reinsman, Varga represented the north west in the Harness Racing NSW Rising Star series having wins on the old Harold Park Paceway, Penrith and the old Bathurst Paceway.
Varga's name is also etched on the Peter & Shirley Hillam Junior under-23 Drivers Premiership at Tamworth on five occasions.
"I can't recall how many winners I have driven," he said.
"I don't keep a tally I just take them as they come."
"I know what the feeling is like when you drive a winner but when you win and the horse is trained in your name it is a completely different feeling."
Varga has had his trainers licence for less a month, and now has four horses in his stable, including Mitrhy's Magic who is part of his parents' - John and Noelena Varga - racing stock.
All indications are that will be growing in time.
