Brewarrina Races a stunning success
After a cruel cancellation by stewards in 2023, the Brewarrina Jockey Club has bounced back to produce one of the biggest picnic race days in years.
More than 800 people flocked to the Bre Racecourse on Saturday to see an expanded race program.
Very rarely are races divided at non-TAB meetings however the final acceptors were so big, Brewarrina was extended from 6 to 7 races.
Legendary race caller Tim Moses said the Bre Jockey Club put on a terrific meeting and were rewarded with a big crowd with plenty of starters.
“It was a mammoth crowd at Brewarrina – one of the biggest crowds they’ve had for a long, long time on an excellent racing surface,” Tim said.
English born apprentice jockey Cobi Vitler and leading Scone trainer Brett Cavanough combined to win the 1200 metres Akubra Hats Brewarrina Cup with the 5-year-old-mare Milingimbi.
Cobi Vitler, now 24, moved to Australia over 4 years ago and commenced his apprenticeship with Cavanough in 2023.
Interestingly, his first winner was Milingimbi at Lismore last June and Vitler has now ridden 55 winners in a relatively short time.
A 12-horse field lined up for the Cup before a big crowd at Brewarrina and it was Plectrum leading the way to the home turn.
The James Hatch, Bourke-trained Lost Media (Shayleigh Ingelse, $7) hit the front but was overhauled and beaten a long neck by Milingimbi (Cobi Vitler, $7) with Nannu (Ken Dunbar, $4 favourite) from the Rodney Robb stable at Nyngan, another half a length away in third place.
Following heavy rain the previous week, the Brewarrina committee worked overtime to get the track in great order for the meeting and the reward was an overwhelming response from owners and trainers.
Racing kicked off with an upset result in the 900 metres Michael Hughes Transport Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Despite being a last start winner at Tomingley Picnics, the Geoff O’Brien, Quirindi trained Redline (Zoe Hunt) started a $26 outsider and led throughout for a narrow win from The Hanger Cat (Cobi Vitler, $3.20 favourite) and Queensland visitor Seeburg (Jacob Golden, $26).
Things didn’t improve for punters when rank outsider Hell Oh Baby won the following race, the 900 metres Bourke Steel And Hire Maiden Handicap for Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton.
Hell Oh Baby (Ken Dunbar, $12) raced outside the leader then edged away to score from Flight or Fight (Zoe Hunt, $3.70) and Perfect Girl (Shannen Llewellyn, $2.50).
Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson won the 1200 metres Bourke Bowling Club BM 45 Handicap with Ithicus (Shannen Llewellyn, $6) which led all the way to beat Castle Hyde (Georgina McDonnell, $12) and Rupeltier (Jessica Brookes, $4 favourite).
The James Hatch trained Rupeltier was responsible for a huge run, coming from 10 lengths behind the second last horse in the 10-horse field.
Connie Greig, the premier trainer on the picnic circuit, also has plenty of success at the professional meetings and she landed a winning double at Brewarrina with Individualist and Blackhill Kitty.
Powerfully ridden by Andrew Banks, Individualist ($4.60) came from midfield to win the 1200 metres McCutcheon Earthmoving /Lukas Building BM 45 Handicap from Hammoon Sky (Georgina McDonnell, $4.60) and Bupkis (Wendy Peel, $4 fav) while Blackhill Kitty (Georgina McDonnell, $6) wore down the leader Dancing In The Sky (Nyssa Burrells, $8) with Beg Me (James Rogers, $12) a strong finishing third in the 1600 metres Schute Bell Badgery Lumby BM 50 Handicap.
Recent Warren winner Miss Italiana became the only favourite to win at Brewarrina when taking out the final event, the 1600 metres The Stabilising-Civil and Mining Contractors Class 1 & Maiden Plate.
Giving Shannen Llewellyn a double for the day, the Brett Robb, Dubbo-trained Miss Italiana ($2 fav) raced close to the lead before cruising home over three lengths ahead of A Bit Bizarre (Jacob Golden, $8) and Virgo Vision (Jessica Brookes, $12).
In Fashions on the Field,the results were as follows:
• Best dressed Girl (0-12 years) – Georgia Dowell
• Best dressed Boy (0-12 years) – Ted McMullen
• Best dressed Colt (13-17 years) – Stirling Wheatley
• Best dressed Filly (13-17 years) – Isabella Wheatley
• Classic Lady – Tiffany Winters of Brewarrina
• Classic Gent – Robert Carey of Tamworth
• Contemporary Lady – Grace Ridge of Enngonia
• Contemporary Gent – Oscar Tate of Sydney
• Best Millinery – Una Taylor of Bourke
See lots of photos from Brewarrina Races in the printed edition of The Western Herald.
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