Tom Ison: Champion reinsman trains his first winner

At Newcastle last Friday the seemingly inevitable occurred: Tom Ison added winning trainer to a resume fat with winning drives.

One of the state's most talented young reinsman can seemingly do no wrong in a sport he was destined to thrive in.

At age 23 he surveyed his life and liked what he saw after recently obtaining a trainer's licence.

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"It does actually make you feel a little bit special when they do win," he said, adding: "I always wanted to do it [drive and train].

"And everything's just going so well at the moment. I couldn't be happier."

In perhaps an ominous sign, Ison's first win came in his second race start as a trainer: his first driving win also came in his second race.

The Newcastle victory with five-year-old Kiwi mare Deanne Panya was made more special because he owns the horse along with his aunty, Gina Ostle, and he also drove her. She is the only horse he trains.

Tamworth-based Ostle is the sister of Ison's father, leading Tamworth trainer, Andy Ison.

He rated his first training win as being "a little bit more special" than his debut driving triumph because it was done with Deanne Panya, whose had eight wins in 34 starts for $40,000 in prize money.

"She's just been so good to us for so long," Ison said. "And to eventually get my trainer's licence and for her to be my first winner, I really enjoyed it."

Ison's memorable night at Newcastle was enhanced by him driving three winners. In race two, he drove the Adam Ruggari-trained Mannho to victory, while in race five he won behind the Roy Roots jnr-trained The Black Prince.

The young reinsman has had 28 wins and 53 minor placings at Newcastle this season. Overall, he's had 76 wins and 103 minor placing this season.

Ison will be back in action at Newcastle on Friday night.

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