'Richo' raring to go!

It didn’t take new St Fort “recruit” Adam Richardson long to get that winning feeling.

Fresh from the drive south from Queensland, Adam again hopped in his car and made the three-hour trip to Wagga to drive for his uncle Darren, landing the chocolates in great fashion by winning the Ladyship Pace by a big 34-metre margin with Ultimate Risk.

“It was certainly the perfect way to again kick off my career down here and hopefully there’s bigger things to come, courtesy of the Peacock stable,” Adam said.

And the combination has since tasted further success at Junee along with a second placing at Wagga.

Adam and his partner Lee Storie and three young children have settled in well at St Fort.

“We are all loving it down here and the property has first-class facilities so the team will get every opportunity to get up and firing,” he said.

“The chance to again work for Tony and his racing partner Pooba Govender was too good to pass up.”

Adam got involved in the sport as a 17-year-old through his uncle Darren, later shifting to Queensland where he worked for Darrel Graham.

“I learnt a fair bit working for Darrel and actually landed my first-ever winner at the Gold Coast on a horse called Shuns Bro, which was prepared by him.”

After a stint up north, Adam found himself working for Tony in 2009-10 when the Peacock stable was based at Kilmore.

“We had a sensational season and Tony just missed out on winning the leading metropolitan trainers award,” Adam said

“I didn’t get to drive at Melton as I didn’t have a metro licence, but I’m excited at the prospect of getting there in the near future.”

The Sunshine State again lured Adam back to the Darrel Graham stable before he branched out on his own with a team of seven.

The stable experienced its fair share of success with tough performer Cold Shark leading the way with eight victories.  Adam also enjoyed some memorable moments as a freelance reinsman including a city win on the smart Chevals Clivesdale, who was later sold to the USA.

Adam is quick to heap praise on his partner Lee for her part in their success.

“Lee comes from a harness racing background with her parents always having been involved with standardbreds,” he said.

Adam said the team of about 20 horses at St Fort was shaping up well.

“They are coming along nicely, while Tony is also busy educating a handful of youngsters.”    

Adam is also preparing two of his own pacers-versatile mare Barriettas Bliss, who ran 3rd in the recent Christmas Cup at Wagga behind the brilliant Brallos Pass; and an unraced 3yo trotter.

“We are excited about the opportunities at St Fort and look forward to spending a fair bit of time in the winner’s circle,” Adam said.