Trots Centre: A good Brew talking hold at Bendigo

Big things are Brewin at Bendigo’s training centre, which houses a couple of the leading lights of the Central circuit who will be eager to add to their success at Lord’s Raceway tonight.

Trainer Justin Brewin and son Jayden will partner with Ringer Russ in the Sheahan Plumbing 3YO Pace, one of five steers for the night for the latter.

Jayden’s produced three wins from 37 starts since the April 2 change to region-based racing, the equal fifth most driving wins in the region, while Justin’s 15 starts as a trainer have produced four winners, the equal second most of any Central trainer.

It’s been an encouraging return for the former South Australian family, who relocated to the Bendigo facility about six weeks ago, just prior to the change to region-based racing.

“When the training centre became available we jumped at it, it’s the perfect place, especially for our young horses,” said Jayden, who believes their horses are benefitting from the chance to race where they train.

“Normally you would have two horses at max on a track (when training), but there are normally three or four here, as well as the track signage and small things that can make a difference in races. The young ones get to see more of the track and become more accustomed to the race day feel.”

Add in that only the Bendigo track is under use at present in their region and the adjustment to their new home has been a smooth one.

“We don’t have to go far to do anything,” Jayden said. “That’s certainly helped us be able to get a few more results. The travelling is one thing, though it doesn’t really worry me, but from a training point of view we have been able to race against similar teams in the local area.”

The centre itself continues to train the next generation through its online systems, with some 56 enrolments at March’s end. The remote learning is enabling students to study while maintaining employment.

And while the next superstars of the sport are being fast-tracked through the centre’s education, the move has also fast-tracked the Brewins settling in, a welcome result for the family that’s taken a big leap in the past 18 months.

Jayden was the family’s trailblazer, leaving Adelaide in September 2018 to pursue a Victorian trots career and beginning at Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars’ Larajay Farm, where he worked “for six or seven months and really liked it”.

“I went back home for a couple of months, sorted out my stuff and mum and dad were keen to move as well,” he said. “We thought it was the right time to pack up and move about six or seven months ago and haven’t looked back since.”

Initially they moved horses to Danny Curran’s property “and he helped us get started”, and then a tick over a month ago “jumped” at the opportunity to embed the team at Bendigo’s training centre.

“We normally had about eight max in Adelaide, but we are training 12 now,” Jayden said. “One or two are from Adelaide, but most are from different owners and a couple are our own.

“The facilities here are great. The walker’s brilliant; we have never had one to use and it’s a great thing. There are four tracks, a state-of-the-art barn, a perfect tack room, coffee room – it’s all there, and a lot of the locals have been real kind.”

Jayden Brewin has five drives tonight and gave Trots Centre readers a runner-by-runner guide:

R3 N5 Ima Ziabee (trainer Glenn Sharp)

“He was jogging in behind them last start when he kicked the cart and galloped, but as soon as he got back down he made up a lot of ground. I think he will be a cheeky, cheeky chance.”

R4 N1 Ringer Ross (trainer Justin Brewin)

“The way he works compared to what he does at the races are two different things. His last run was better, but he’s just struggling to find his feet. I think he will get better with age, he’s not hopeless, he has got some speed. It is a small field, he should find leader’s back and hopefully run into the money.”

R6 N2 Shadow Ross (trainer Kate Hargeaves)

“He is a horse that needs to be up on the speed. I don’t know if he can get to the fence, but if he can he will be up there.”

R7 N2 Leigha Miller (trainer Gary Donaldson)

“She’s my best chance. If she can find the front she will be very hard to beat, but it’s not do or die that we have to lead, she has got a good turn of foot on her.”

R8 N7 Shaq (trainer Ellen Tormey)

“His effort two starts ago was pretty gig. He is a little bit of a tricky horse, but if I can roll forward and sit outside them he is certainly my second best chance of the night.”

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Hosts Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden have another big line-up for today’s Talking Trots on SENTrack, which runs weekdays from 11am-1pm on 1377AM in Melbourne, 657AM in Perth and 1575AM in Wollongong.

Today’s guests include:

From 11am: Trainer Luke Stapleton

From 11.20am: Trainer Shaun McNaulty

From 11.35am: Trainer Neville Pangrazio

From 11.50am: Race caller Luke Humphreys

From noon: The Tuesday Tutorial with Mitch Sidebottom

Click here to listen live and for links to download the SEN app.