Jason Cannon is confident Outpost can deliver a fourth successive victory and the biggest win of his career so far in the $102,250 Happy Trails Series Final (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
If the five-year-old gelding delivers it will well and truly seal a dream return to the training ranks for Cannon, who resumed his training career earlier this year following an eight-year break.
Outpost will once again partner with apprentice Teagan Voorham who has guided his three wins so far this preparation, all at Morphettville.
“It’s obviously a better race than those he’s lined up in so far but I think he can get up, particularly with no weight,” Cannon said.
“Teagan has done a great job, she has jelled very well with him.
“The whole preparation has gone to plan. He showed us a bit in his trials and I think he’s actually been a bit unlucky not to have won four already this prep.
“He keeps improving and I think he’s the type of horse that can go better again next preparation.”
Cannon, who comes from a racing family with his Dad (Stan) a trainer in Victoria, has always been part of the industry and worked across a number of stables including with Michael Hickmott and Sue Jaensch during his break from training.
“I’m loving it,” he said when asked how he had found the return to the training ranks.
“It’s always good when you’ve got a nice horse,” he added with a laugh.
Cannon's first shot at training was from Ballarat back in late 2011 until early 2013. Over that time he won four races, with the last being at Hanging Rock on Australia Day in 2013.
He was lured to have another shot at it when approached by a friend-of-a-friend to train some of his horses while working in Bordertown, and decided to move to Morphettville in April where he would have access to more facilities.
“I was approached by a bloke who breeds in Nairne to train some of his horses,” he said.
“When that offer came along, I decided to give it a proper crack and move to Morphettville.
“At the moment I’ve got 10 horses in work and they’re all from the one client, apart from a few I train for my partner.
“I’m really enjoying it so the hope is the business will continue to grow.”
