Episode 481: Peter Nestor

Great to catch up with respected Dubbo trainer Peter Nestor who’s back in town training a small team of horses after a four year break from racing. A member of a legendary western districts racing family, Peter takes us back to his early days in the unique township of Gulargambone, and the family’s move to Dubbo. He talks of the serious heart ailment that stopped him in his tracks early last year. Peter admits he knew something was amiss for many months. He places most of the blame on a lifelong smoking habit. He says he really wasn’t intending to train horses again, but the bug soon bit. Peter talks of Loving Angel, the former Snowden trained mare who got him up and going again. He says she’s got a few quirks. He talks of Blue Guitar, another “hand me down” who’s been impressive in winning a couple of recent races.  The trainer speaks highly of lightly raced filly Grand Oyster, a recent winner at Narromine. Pete’s adamant that he won’t be increasing the size of his team. He pays tribute to his late father John, a former outstanding bush jockey and a successful trucking operator in later life.  The sixty five year old talks of brother Michael, a former successful jockey and current Dubbo businessman. He talks of Michael’s love of a bet. Peter says his only sister Wendy has enjoyed some luck as an owner. He speaks admiringly of nephew Kody Nestor who’s enjoyed great success in the saddle and the training ranks. He’s currently getting over surgery for an old injury. Peter talks of Kody’s retirement from the training ranks two years ago, and a return to race riding. The trainer speaks glowingly of his former apprentice Kathy O’Hara who has three Gr1 wins on her CV. He says Kathy was going to succeed from the day she walked into the stable. The NSW western districts has produced many outstanding jockeys. Peter pays tribute to the riders he’s most admired over a long period of years. He looks back on a challenging move to Sydney in the early 1990’s and talks of the Rosehill stables he occupied for several years. Peter says Shiraz was almost certainly the best horse he’s trained. He recommended the horse should be sent to Sydney after a sequence of impressive country wins. He talks of Izababe, winner of eleven races including two country Cups. He says the horse was desperately unlucky not to win a Scone Cup. The trainer speaks with great affection of a pony sized mare called Aulone Star.  He remembers the deeds of Miss Alberta who was hampered by a suspect tendon for much of her career. Peter pays a fitting tribute to his wife Nancy, son Michael, daughter Amanda and six grandchildren. It’s an enjoyable chat with a very laid back bush horseman.