Brent’s 50th training win

When Smokin Annie smoked home along the inner to win at Ascot Park on Thursday Brent notched his 50th win as a trainer.
That result was the culmination of 27 years as a license holder that took him from Tussock Creek to Wendonside.
There was little fanfare and certainly no boasting about the achievement from the man himself – Brent is clearly not one for the spotlight.
“I am not really in to talking myself up – maybe you could say if I was any good I would have trained twice as many winners,” he quipped.

 


A quick look at his trophy cabinet, filled with cups from all over Otago and Southland, suggests that is not the case.
Just Jazzan got things started in 1995 with her Wyndham Cup win and the victories kept coming over the next two decades.


Bonnie Lass took out the Winton Businesses Cup, Waikouaiti Cup, Northern Southland Cup and the Southern Country Cups Final in winning nine races from Brent’s stable.
Jamie won the Wairio Cup in track record time and helped Brent win a second Waikouaiti Cup in her seven wins.


Brent’s 50th victory may not have been in a cup race, but the win held plenty of significance.
It was an all family affair – Smokin Annie is raced by Brent and Sheree’s son-in-law, Paul Hailes.