Above: Champion picnic jockey Adam Bodey aboard Sir Brave Heart before the Trevor Lineham Open Trophy Handicap at Pakenham Racecourse on Sunday. Bodey was a mate of Trevor Lineham, who died in May last year. By Glen Atwell
A PAKENHAMtrained horse was the fitting winner of the Yakkerboo Trophy Handicap at Pakenham Picnic Races on Sunday.
Thai Rose, trained by Gavin Brady, outstayed Causal to claim the trophy and the $640 prize.
Pakenham jockey Adam Bodey had booted Causal to the front of the pack, but could not hold on as the fastfinishing Thai Rose swept past to win by a head.
Thai Rose returned to picnic racing after struggling to challenge a class one field at Werribee on 25 March.
Brady said he had expected the horse to go well.
“It was a good run, I’m very pleased,” he said.
It was a hard day for Bodey, who was placed in four races, but could not find a winner.
Race four was in honour of Trevor Lineham, a former vicepresident and committeeman of the Pakenham Picnic Racing Club.
The race was of special significance to Bodey, who was a close friend of Lineham who died in May last year.
Bodey rode Sir Brave Heart, which he also trains, in the race and looked a winning chance at the final bend, but was run down by Corrupted and Prospector’s Dream in the final 100 metres.
Sir Brave Heart ran third, but Bodey said he was more than happy with the run.
“This horse has been in since Melbourne Cup day last year,” he said.
“He just wasn’t good enough today, he jumped away well but couldn’t hold on.”
But Bodey’s winless day did not take the shine off another stellar picnic racing season.
Racing towards his sixth consecutive amateur jockeys’ premiership, Bodey has ridden 49 winners this season and is confident of notching up his first halfcentury with three meetings to go in the 200506 season.
“It’s a personal best for me already, but I’d love to find one more winner and get the halfcentury,” he said.
If history is any indication, the region’s most talented amateur jockey won’t have any trouble booting home another winner and raising his winning whip.
The meeting was the second of Pakenham’s two annual picnic fixtures and cool weather and a clash with the Yakkerboo festival and the Australian F1 Grand Prix combined to attract a smaller than expected crowd at the track.
The club thanked its volunteers and sponsors including David Bull Funerals, Quinn Civil, Pakenham Bolts, Aspect Packaging, Orcrest Projects, Worlds Best Hoof Oil, Mama Rosa, Carlton Draught, Pakenham Produce, Marlene Burhop, Thompson Racing Stables and Hardy’s Mitre 10 Pakenham.
The club also thanked Marie HansenNooy and Leanne Barker who contributed much in organizing the ‘Fashions On the Field’ competition.
