By “Pegs”
SEYMOUR co-trainers Lee and Shannon Hope had a windfall with the win of Big Brew, $7, at bet365 Geelong’s Good Friday meeting.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Magnus and Tea For Three was rewarded for his consistency in taking out the $150,000 SCAADA Group Services Country Trainers Series Final over 1500 metres.
Beautifully positioned in the run by Jack Hill, the gelding was too strong at the finish, defeating Paint Me Red, $21, by a half-length, with the $2.70 favourite Claidheamh Mor a head away third.
“His run at Kilmore two starts ago was quite good first up,” Lee Hope said. “The winner at Benalla was too good but he’s done well during the week and coming here they were very similar horses for great prize money.
“Jack rode him excellent and he was always going to be in the finish. It was a great day for a good cause.”
With nothing planned, Hope said they would look for a midweek Sandown meeting over a similar distance in a few weeks.
The gelding was bred and is raced by successful Melbourne-based businessman Bill Bowness.
Big Brew has now won five races with nine minor placings from his 37 starts, accruing $245,565 in prize money.
Hoofnote: The win of Big Brew had a bit of a family flavour as the co-trainers’ stepson and stepbrother, Gold Coast-based Ryan Shinn, was the strapper on the day.
Back-to-back for Lady
Fellow Seymour trainer Stephen Brown had Lady Jones ‘cherry ripe’ for a first-up win at Sportsbet-Pakenham last Thursday night.
In her first race since winning her maiden at Moonee Valley last December, the three-year-old daughter of Toronado was impressive in taking out the $40,000 De Bortoli Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400 metres.
Giving the in-form Luke Nolan the second leg of a riding double, the filly defeated Red Stiletto, $15, by one-and-a-quarter lengths, with Whakamana, $14, a close third.
Lady Jones, a half-sister to recent stable winner Lady Whistledown, was bred by Brown and his wife Elisha along with the stable’s biggest clients, Perth-based Peter and Robyn Jones, and has now won two races with two minor placings from her six starts.
A big few days
On Saturday at the traditional Kerang Cup meeting, the Brown family and the rest of the racing fraternity were thrilled to witness the Linc Sullivan-trained Saltation, $18, greet the judge in the Bet365 Maiden Plate over 1400 metres.
The Trust In A Gust five-year-old gelding was piloted by Stephen Brown Jr, giving the rider his first winner since sustaining life-threatening injuries in a nasty trackwork fall at Wangaratta jumpouts in September 2019.
Brown Jr spent three-and-a-half weeks in an induced coma at Royal Melbourne Hospital and another two-and-a-half months in rehabilitation.
Brown Jr, said to be Australia’s tallest jockey at 190cm, sustained head injuries, broken ribs, neck fractures and a punctured lung in the fall.
His determination to get back in the saddle was rewarded on Saturday.
Easter winners
Other district winners during the Easter break were the Marita Lawson-trained Enveeo, $5.50, ridden by the in-form Rhys McLeod at Warracknabeal on Saturday; and the following day at Stawell the Bob Challis-trained St Pats Day, $5.50, took out the Maiden Plate over 1300 metres. The Reward For Effort four-year-old gelding was ridden by Alana Kelly.
Meetings this week
The next turf meeting at bet365 Kilmore will be this Thursday, April 13.
For Trackside or al fresco a la carte dining bookings or for further enquiries ring the Kilmore Racing Club on 5783 0777.
Seymour resumes
The following day, April 14, Seymour Racing Club will host its first race meeting since November 11 last year.
Successful jumpouts were carried out on March 22, with Racing Victoria stewards giving the tick of approval.
The Bar Landy Restaurant will be available for dining, however bookings are essential.
People can ring the Seymour Racing Club on (03) 5799 1681 for bookings or for further enquiries.
