Julius Sandhu is today a well-known, although new, name in the Victorian horse racing scene.
The Cranbourne horse trainer runs a small boutique stable focused on every detail and every owner.
Sandhu was born in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), India, where his association with thoroughbreds began 30 years ago.
In an interview, Sandhu told the RSN that his father, who was in the armed forces, loved a Saturday at the track.
“Mum used to joke that she never knew if he’d won or lost because either way, he always came home whistling up the stairs. He just loved it.”
Sandhu who was on his way to become a teenage billiards sensation decided to change the direction of his career.
“I got to a reasonably good level, won a few state championships. In order to make a living out of it over there you need really serious sponsorship.”
He trained under Aris B. David, a renowned horse trainer, and started looking for opportunities abroad, particularly in Dubai. Here, he worked for the famous American horse trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
“From Dubai World Cups to Group 1s in U.S, I was a sponge for information whenever I was with him”.
After working for five years, Sandhu moved to Australia to work in the corporate world.
However, within a few years, Sandhu decided to return to his true passion – horse training and racing.
After 15 months of working for Mick Kent, Sandhu gained his license along with instrumental support and guidance.
Last month, Sandhu felt gutted after his horse Lofty Strike was scratched from Blue Diamond Stakes.
Three vets deemed Lofty Strike “not suitable” to race after the unbeaten colt “again presented with lameness in the right front”.
Sandhu, who has a team of around 30 horses in work, is looking forward to growing his stables and a change of fortune by winning more races in 2022.