Laurence Eales knows how to succeed. He is the owner of one of Australia’s largest equipment hire firms, EA Hire, and he is celebrating after upstaging some of the wealthiest thoroughbred owners in Australia to win the Melbourne Cup with his horse Shocking.

Eales, 37, was born in Cairns, and is now based in Melbourne.
The entrepreneur has a classic rags-to-riches story. He dropped out of high school early to go and work in his father’s butchers shop and later became an apprentice tiler. He was learning how to succeed through life experience.  Moving to Sydney, he decided to diversify and get into the earthmoving business after buying a single excavator. He built EA Hire into a thriving business with more than 150 staff.

Eales contends he worked hard at his business and set it up so he could have a little bit of a dabble with the horses. His philosophy is you’ve got to do what you like.

Four years ago he took a share in his first racehorse, named Rednex. It managed to place first at a minor Victorian country meeting, not a terribly auspicious start, but for the long-time punter, the ownership bug had bitten.

As an owner he has his own particular system and way about him, echoing his entrepreneurial skills. Most owners rely on others to help fill their stable, whereas Eales picks horses from the sales himself. He also concentrates on the progeny of imported stallion Street Cry.

Two years ago, he sent two Street Cry horses to trainer Mark Kavanagh. The first was Whobegotyou, who is apparently raising eyebrows and thought of as a potential champion. The galloper has already won more than $2.2 million in prize money.

And the second was Shocking, who has now earned more than $3.8 million after his Cup victory. At a total cost of $83,500 for both horses, the return on investment is almost staggering. They have now earned more than $6 million! Now that’s how to succeed with Shocking.

Shane Krider- Polaris Media Group