Milestone Monday for Peta Brown
The win of Sammy Barbaro at Globe Derby Park on Monday brought up the $1 million prizemoney mark for trainer Peta Brown from Bagot Well, just outside Kapunda.
In a significant achievement, the $2528 first prize in the Bianco Reinforcing Trotters Mobile (2230m) took the earnings of horses trained by Brown to $1,000,767.
The trainer was unable to be at Globe Derby Park on Monday, but husband Terry, who drove Sammy Barbaro, said it was a special achievement for the family.
“Peta has been training for 30 years, and Sammy’s win was her 277th,” Brown said.
“We are a family business in the sport with Peta the trainer, our son Nick and myself are the drivers. Our daughter Charli has had success in the pony trots and looks certain to step up and help when she gets old enough.
“Nearly all of our horses arrive from other stables so today is pretty special.”
Sammy Barbaro, backed from $9 into $3.70, settled one-out, one-back before coming with a well-timed run to score by 1-1/2 metres from Hayoak ($3.60 fav) with Tiney ($4.20) a similar margin away third.
Brown said he and Peta saw Sammy Barbaro trial when it was trained by Claire Goble.
“The horse was bred and owned by Peter Mittiga who passed away. As part of his dispersal sale the gelding was offered for sale, and we picked him up for $12,000.
“Our good friends Barb and John Neilsen, and Peter Atkinson took shares, and Sammy has taken us on a great ride.
The Neilsen’s raced the star filly Direct Cindy which won a 2YO Sires Stakes final, Mermaid Stakes and 3YO Fillies Southern Cross around the turn of the century.
Two races later, bold front running mare Our Spitfire put icing on the day for the Browns taking out the Peak DNK @ Bellmoure Park Stud Trotters Handicap (2230m).
Brown drove the nine-year-old mare, a $6.50 chance, to find the front and she was able to win by one metre from Twixten ($6) with Janes Gem ($6), two metres away third.
Our Spitfire was bred and is owned by New Zealander Frank Weaver who owned the former champion trotting mare Pride Of Petite, which came off a 40-metre handicap to win the 1997 Inter Dominion Trotters Final at Globe Derby Park.
The state honours the mare each year staging the Pride Of Petite for trotting mares and the 2025 version will be run over 2230 metres at Globe Derby this Saturday.
Brown said Our Spitfire would back up on Saturday.
“It is a race I would love to win with her for Frank. If she can find the front, she will give them something to chase.”
Broodmare Anna Finn has proved a wonderful producer with seven foals and all multiple winners.
Father and son John and Rob Curnow and trainer Lance Holberton took up breeding from Anna Finn, with their first foal being Art Regal.
Three-year-old Art Regal was the latest of her progeny to grab a feature win taking out the $14,000 Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace Final (1800m) at Globe Derby Park on Monday.
It was the 85th win by the progeny of Anna Finn, which is due to foal to champion stallion Sweet Lou next month. One of her daughters, the outstanding Dancing Finn will start her breeding career this year, also going to Sweet Lou.
Coming from barrier eight, gate one on the second row, Art Regal ($41) sat behind the leader Dallas Dale ($2.70) before dashing up the sprint lane to win by 2-1/2 metres.
The win the 148th for talented reinsman Josh Holberton.
Art Regal won impressively at Globe Derby Park on August 25 before having little luck when sixth at the track five days later.
“Lance thought we might be able to get across to sit parked, but I thought it was unlikely,” Holberton said.
“So it proved and after being three wide I had to go back to last. Today, with a good run, he showed his ability.”
Line Up Jacquie has proved a bargain buy for owner-trainer Tayla Warren.
The diminutive six-year-old mare won her third straight race for Warren leading throughout in the Ladbrokes Fast Payouts Pace (1800m).
A red hot $1.65 favourite, Line Up Jacquie was taken straight to the front from gate three by Wayne Hill and rated perfectly to score by 2-1/2 metres from React To Beauty ($26) with Nanna Helen ($15) a long head away third.
Warren said her partner Jon Kingston-Mayne, had spotted the mare for sale online and was able to pick her up for $2000.
“She has already won nearly $6000 so has certainly paid for herself,” Warren said.
Talented trotter All The Trix returned to the winner’s list in the Imperial Count USA @ Bellmoure Park Stud Trotters Handicap (2645m).
Trained by Claire Goble at Wasleys and driven by David Smith, All The Trix ($4.20) used the sprint lane to grab a 1-1/2 metre win from Regal Attire ($6) with Kyvalley Heist ($5.50), 2-1/2 metres away third.
The sole front marker, All The Trix stepped away well but was headed off early by Kyvalley Heist which had begun quickly off a 10-metre handicap.
As it turned out it was a good spot to trot as there was pressure on the leader which ran a 57.7 second first half of the last 1600 metres and came home in a 60.2 second final 800m.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga