Jenkins, who grew up at Tatura, will link up with experienced horse trainer David Brideoake in a training partnership later this year.
Jenkins, 28, has been busy plying his trade in an assistant trainer role for Brideoake for the past 14 months and is ready to take the next step.
The former jockey — who confessed he "never thought about being a trainer" — said he was gathering all of the right paperwork to lodge his application next month.
“I'm really thankful for the opportunity to join David in a training partnership,” Jenkins said.
“I've still got a couple more things to work through, it's been a bit of a process getting all of the certificates, but I'm almost there.”
In the meantime, Jenkins has kept busy on Brideoake's Mornington-based stable.
Brideoake, a three-time Group One winning trainer, has 60 horses in the midst of their spring preparatopm, with another 40 spelling.
The stable boasts talented gallopers Midships (NZ), Twist Of Fury and Strategic Phil, while it has a potential Victorian Derby runner in Dunalley.
For Jenkins, joining Brideoake in partnership was the only "realistic" way to get his foot in the door of the training world.
“I think so. For two reasons really,” he said.
“It's so hard to get off the ground at my age, not having that financial support and having owners to back you in. Going in this way means you are stepping in with the foundations already there.
“The other thing is racing is very demanding. It's hard to juggle everything at once."
Jenkins’ path to becoming a trainer began more than a decade ago.
“Someone put it to me that I should be a jockey, I didn't grow up on a farm and my parents weren't involved, so it was pretty random to be honest,” Jenkins said with a laugh.
“I played footy, cricket and tennis growing up, but I was pretty small, so I went down the horse racing route.
“I was ordinary at footy, so I saw it as a great opportunity to try something out and that's where the love started.”
Jenkins recounted his early steps in the industry which have progressed to him preparing to apply for his trainer's licence.
“I started off as an apprentice jockey under Gary Sherer at Tatura,” he said.
“But I had a pretty bad fall and I broke my back . . . unfortunately my riding career was cut short.
“Chad Schofield (fellow jockey) teed me up with Henry Dwyer and I joined his stable in a role that saw me handle and communicate with the owners which was great experience.
“After five years with Henry, David reached out and said he was looking for an assistant trainer and I've been here for around 14 months now.”
Despite packing his bags and riding off from his hometown six years ago, Jenkins still keeps a strong connection to the region.
He has ownership in horses with friends that remain in the Goulburn Valley or, like him, shifted away for work.
“I can't speak highly enough of everyone back home in the GV,” Jenkins said.
“Everyone is always checking in to see how I'm going and how the stable is going. The support I receive is huge.
“I'm in ownership with a lot of fellas back home, plenty of Tat, Kyabram, Mooroopna and Shepparton boys and it's a nice way to keep connected.”
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