Jenkins, whose stable is situated in Cranbourne, recently dived into the solo venture after about four months working under stables in Western Australia and Victoria following the end of a long-term partnership.
It was at the Williams Racing WA and Freedman Racing stables that Jenkins further developed his craft and backed himself to take the leap of faith to go solo.
“I had 50 to 60-odd winners in a partnership, but then I took three or four months to better myself and work in WA and then Victoria,” Jenkins said.
“It really sharpened me up.”
With 18 horses named to Jenkins Racing currently, Jenkins has had 12 starts since November last year, but his latest result is one he hopes he can now build upon.
Heading to Morphettville in South Australia, Jenkins Racing took over bay filly Prestige Ka Ying in January, but with soaring temperatures nationwide, the race was canned for a week.
While Jenkins was feeling “bullish”, he had to fly back to Victoria and leave Prestige Ka Ying in Adelaide, creating inevitable worry and doubts.
“I felt like I had her cherry ripe, but it all got thrown out of whack with it being postponed,” Jenkins said.
“I ended up leaving her there (in South Australia) for 7 days and I flew back and that made me a bit nervous.
“She was in the hands of another trainer, but it was hard knowing how she was faring not seeing her in the flesh, so I went from being really bullish to having some doubts in the back of my mind.
“But once I got back there she looked awesome, and she was parading around so I knew she was still primed to go.”
Primed to go she was, with jockey Rochelle Milnes taking the horse through the finish line a head and neck in front, claiming a 1200-metre race win by 0.059 seconds.
“I’ve only had 12 runners since I started the solo venture, so it was nice to get an early win, a metropolitan win,” Jenkins said.
“[Beginning a solo stable] was a little bit daunting, I was in a partnership with a mature age guy with plenty of experience, so to go solo was a big step, a nervous step, but off the back of the win, and having good staff and a good complex it really solidifies your confidence.”
The good fortune will hopefully not end there for the Tatura trainer.
Still looking to build his portfolio and list of horses, Jenkins metropolitan win has him buzzing for the future.
About “half a dozen” horses trained at Jenkins Racing stable are set to trot at racecourses in the next month, and a few gems are brewing for the spring season.
“I have 18 horses in training, most of them are young and building and should be racing in the next three to six months,” Jenkins said.
“But I still have about half a dozen racing in the next month, they’re all of different ability levels, but I’m excited for autumn.
“The best will come in the spring time though, so exciting times are ahead.”
