CHAMPION jumps jockey Steven Pateman saddles up his first runner as a trainer at Terang on Thursday.
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Pateman, who was only granted his dual trainer-jockey licence by Racing Victoria stewards last Friday said he was excited to be saddling Zagaya up in a restricted race over 1200 metres.
“It's been a great initiative by RV to grant dual licences,” he said.
“I must admit I'm a bit toey. Zagaya is first-up. I'm not expecting him to do much. I'm sure he will be improved by the run.
The two time Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase winning jockey said he nine horses in work at his property at Barwon Heads.
“Seven of my nine horses in work are jumpers,” Pateman said.
“I'm really loving training the horses. It's a great lifestyle. I'm probably the fittest I've been in years because it's a different lifestyle to what I had been living.
“I reckon I’ll be riding at 66kgs when the jumps season kicks off in March.”
I'm probably the fittest I've been in years because (training horses) is a different lifestyle to what I had been living.
- Steven Pateman
The talented horseman won the 2011 Grand Annual on Al Garhood while he was successful on Awakening Dream in 2012.