Browns success on Kapunda Cup Day
Husband and wife, Terry and Peta Brown achieved a career highlight at Sunday’s Kapunda Cup meeting in the feature Barossa Auto Group Dick & Janet White Memorial Trot (2200m).
Daisy Bouchea ($8.50), driven by Michael Smith, finished best to score a one metre win from Our Spitfire ($13) with Nicholas Brown in the sulky while Terry Brown partnered Sammy Babaro ($11) which was 2-1/2 metres away third.
All three are prepared at Bagot Well, just outside Kapunda, by Peta Brown.
Terry Brown was emotional after the race.
“When I came across to South Australia from Victoria in 1988, Dick and Janet put me up for six months before Dad (Don) came across and we purchased our own property,” Brown said.
“I am so grateful for the way Dick & Janet looked after me and they remained lifelong friends until they passed so for our family, it was always a goal to win the race name in their honour.
“So to not only win the race, but have the trifecta is incredible.
“I always said the race that had meant the most to me was when Seizinger won the race named after Dad at Gawler back in 2003, but this goes pretty bloody close.”
Brown said it was a great effort as Peta only had three horses ready to race and they supplied the trifecta.
“Peta only has four horses work, and the other one only came back into the stable earlier in the week.
“I thought Daisy Bouchea was unlucky at Gawler on the Wednesday. She was ready to win but got checked on the home turn and did a great job to finish third.
“Michael drove her beautifully today and had her one-out, one-back in the run and came with a race winning sprint.
“Nick drove Our Spitfire great. He was able to find the lead, and I think the winner was just too good on the day.
“I was only Sammy Barbaro and trailed Our Spitfire. He wasn’t completely comfortable around the turns but ran really well.
“It was just an amazing result.”
Another trainer celebrating at Kapunda was Reece Moore after the victory of Neds Beach in the Competitive Roof Restoration Pace (1800m).
“He is 10-years-old and racing in his best form for a few years,” Moore said.
Driven by Wayne Hill, Neds Beach ($6) sat parked but drew clear for a one metre win from Trigger ($4) with Well Well ($7.50), seven metres away third.
“That is a hat-trick for him following wins at Ararat and Gawler,” Moore said.
“I took a few horses to Victoria last month and was considering a move back there.
“I have decided to stay in South Australia but have cut my team back and changed the way I have been working them.
“I actually watched a film about the champion Gammalite and how he was trained so all my are now worked in the bike rather than go on a jogger, and Neds Beach is proving my change is working.”
Another Kapunda winner in great form is Captain Barnato, trained at Angle Vale by Dean Girardi.
Driven by Jason Kittel, Captain Barnato ($2.10 fav) sat parked in the Prince Of Wales Hotel Pace (1800m) and scored by a half neck from Avoca Blues ($19) with Rocknroll Spirit ($4.20), 4-1/2 metres away third.
The winner now has three wins and a second from his past four starts.
“When he came into my stable from Victoria he wanted to pull and hang,” Girardi said.
“He has been a work in progress but is definitely getting better and I give a lot of credit to Jason, who drives him really well.”
Michael Smith, who won on Daisy Bouchea, won earlier in the meeting on Le Spartacus in the SMS Bitumen Vale Bill Adams Pace (2200m).
Trained in Mildura by Boris Devcic, Le Spartacus ($3.70) sat parked and held off the fast-finishing Alora ($2.40 fav) to win by a short half head with Alive And Free ($7.50), 5-3/4 metres away third.
Devcic said the winner had been racing in good form and thought he was well placed at Kapunda after a third at Globe Derby Park in his previous run.
- story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga