Decorated horseman Joe Waldron has returned to New Zealand from Melbourne to open a South Island stable, saying it is becoming increasingly difficult to compete in Australia.
Based in Te Awamutu when initially training in New Zealand, Waldron said he felt the South Island was a better option for his return, and he has secured a dozen boxes at Wingatui.
A former international eventer, Waldron has spent the past six years in Melbourne and he is looking forward to plying his trade on home soil.
“The decision to come home was mainly based around wanting to come home. I was missing the New Zealand lifestyle and family and friends,” Waldron said.
Waldron also cited the increasing competitive nature of racing in Australia as another major factor and felt the move back to New Zealand was the best choice to help further his training career.
“Australian racing is becoming more top-heavy every season, it is dominated by the big stables,” he said.
“Realistically, you need to have 100 horses to be relevant, and I don’t really have an ambition to train a huge team of horses.
“Training in New Zealand, especially down here (at Wingatui), you can have a smaller team in work and still be competitive, which I am really looking forward to.”