Episode 379: Nick Olive

Great to catch up with trainer Nick Olive who looks like surviving yet another Canberra winter. Nick takes us back to the fateful day when his father took him and brother Tim to a Canberra race meeting. He says the die was cast on that very day. The trainer talks of his recent Covid 19 isolation. Nick agrees with some fellow ACT trainers who don’t wish to train anywhere else despite some concerning insurance issues under the ACT Government. He talks of his manageable team of 20-25 horses. Nick remembers childhood days when he’d help a local thoroughbred trainer before reporting for school. He talks of subsequent learning stints with a leading Rosehill trainer, and a now famous thoroughbred stud. Olive talks of a two year experience at the Orange Agricultural Institute- a promise he made to his parents. Nick talks of his first serious job under the tutelage of respected trainer Ken Callaghan. He explains the circumstances surrounding an accident that frightened the daylights out of him. He says it could have been much worse.  The forty nine year old looks back on his next adventure- eight happy years with Barbara Joseph at Bombala. A former school friend was instrumental in Nick acquiring his first horse. Two wins at Canberra followed, and a new career was born.  Nick affectionately remembers the $6000 Scone graduate who brought him under attention as a serious horse trainer. You can hear the admiration in Nick’s voice as he pays tribute to 12 time winner Voice Commander. He describes the stakes winner as a real warrior every time he went to the races. The trainer reflects on his first city winner Neat Work. Nick pays homage to some of his stable favourites.  We’ve left plenty of space for his tribute to Single Gaze, the $70,000 yearling who took him to racing’s biggest stage. Nick takes us through Single Gaze’s early career right up to her exciting win in the Gr 1 Vinery Stud Stakes- his first at the elite level, and Kathy O’Hara’s second. He looks back on the sickening Australian Oaks fall, and his mercy dash on foot up the Randwick straight. He feared the worst. You’ll be touched by Kathy O’Hara’s first words to Nick. Olive talks of Single Gaze’s long road back to form in Queensland and Victoria. He still gets a tingle down the spine when he remembers the mare’s gallant second in the Caulfield Cup. He looks back on a very pleasing final campaign and her sale to a famous Japanese stud. He was led to believe she would not race again. Imagine his shock when he got a phone call from another trainer. Nick looks back on his multiple Canberra trainer’s premierships and one surprise state victory. He acknowledges the support of several jockeys who’ve ridden winners for the stable. The trainer gives teenage daughters Chloe and Jesse a special mention. Nick signs off with one final tribute to his Dad who was directly responsible for his son’s obsession with racing.