For a county trainer, claiming that first city win is always a landmark moment, and for Kyneton-based trainer Dean Krongold last Friday night at The Valley was exactly that.
Snuffs the Battle was the toast of Krongold’s stables after holding off Darren Weir’s Talk of California in the opening race.
“Oh it was unbelievable,” Krongold said of his first city win.
“I feel like it’s come prematurely that’s for sure, but I’ve got really good people around me and we’re all striving for success so it was just great to get one on the board.”
Snuffs the Battle has acclimatized well to Krongold’s Kyneton set-up after an unsuccessful stint in Alice Springs, and the young trainer has always liked what he’s seen in the mare.
“She has always promised something and she delivered on Friday night,” he said.
“We went there pretty confident, she raced well in her last start in Bendigo and she’s such a good doer and really sound.”
The win was Krongold’s 10th from 66 starts, for a remarkable strike rate of 15%. Peppermint Lane was his first professional winner earlier this year, while Diamond Spinner has won three races for him.
Krongold’s success comes as no surprise to some as he spent years honing his craft with some of the industry’s best.
“I worked for Rob McGuinness stables at Caulfield when I was in school and then full time after I finished,” he said.
“After a year I went and worked for Cliff Brown for five years, and within that time I worked at Waikato Stud in New Zealand and at Newmarket in England for trainer Chris Wall.
“I also did four years with Lloyd Williams and three years with Luke Oliver as their foreman.”
While The Valley was the scene of Krongold’s first city winner, the famous racetrack has always been kind to the 35-year-old.
“The Valley has always held a special spot in my heart,” he said.
“I strapped my first city winner for Cliff Brown there and she won twice at The Valley.
“Ramensky, the two-year-old, had her first start at Moonee Valley and ran a great race to come third so that was exciting and now Snuffs the Battle has made the place extra special for me.”
Krongold will be looking for more success at The Valley this Friday night with Diamond Spinner running in the 1200m Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap.