Wayne Brown, a former businessman now active as a trainer, expresses his deep appreciation for country racing and the relaxed lifestyle prevalent in South Australia.
Having transitioned from NSW, Brown made Gawler his primary base last year and has recently established a satellite stable at Port Lincoln. He is also contemplating setting up his foreman at Strathalbyn in the near future, allowing him to step back and enjoy the sport.
Brown’s immediate focus, however, is on the Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday, where Power Beau is entered to race. This horse is the one that provided the trainer with his sole Stakes race victory.
Unfortunately, Brown acknowledges the potential need to send Power Beau to a stable in Brisbane or Melbourne to continue its racing career at a higher level.
“He’s got plenty of weight and a bad barrier on Saturday,” Brown said. “He’s a very consistent horse and he tries hard, but he got caught wide first-up and that track at Cranbourne didn’t suit.”
“We put him out after the Goodwood and gave him a break, and I thought there would be more races here to get him going, but he would probably be better going to Brisbane or Melbourne to race, because with his rating, it’s too hard to place him.”
“It gets hard with the big weights, and he has to carry 61-½ kilos on Saturday, and for him there’s not a lot of races until December.”
“He’s a horse that doesn’t travel that well and when we went to Cranbourne, we went three or four days before.”
“He would be better staying over there, and that’s what I may look at, but I would like to get him back for the summer races next year.”
Power Beau triumphed in the Listed City Of Marion Stakes over the same course and distance in February, and subsequently finished second in another Listed race the following month behind Shadhavar.
The sprinter, a $14,000 acquisition, later participated in Adelaide’s most significant sprint race, The Goodwood, finishing just over three lengths behind the winner after leading the field.
“In the Goodwood, he over-raced and bled and only got beaten three lengths,” Brown stated. “He’s up to a Group 2 or a Group 3 over here and I think he would measure up to a Listed or a Group 3 over in Melbourne.”
“He’s getting with age and I only paid $14,000 for him. He’s paid his way and he’s a lovely, lovely horse. We’ve had a good run with him.”
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