Race win in memory of a mate

Champion amateur jockey Adam Bodey salutes after an emotional victory in the Trevor Lineham Sprint on Bramble Blitz at Pakenham on New Year’s Day. Picture: Brad Kingsbury

By Brad Kingsbury
REIGNING Victorian champion amateur jockey Adam Bodey never blows his own trumpet.
Instead the Pakenham horseman lets a sublime combination of his riding talent, sense of timing, steely focus and hard work do his talking for him.
That’s resulted in an eight-year reign as the state’s leading picnic rider, together with eight consecutive Barry Ryan Medals for the rider that has excelled throughout the season.
That record speaks for itself and, had Bodey been born a few inches smaller and about 15 kilograms lighter, no doubt he would be regularly pitting his talent against the likes of leading professional hoops like Craig Williams, Vlad Duric and Craig Newitt.
Bodey sets his sights high and openly admits to aiming for 50 wins over the current 2008-09 picnic racing season, however there was only one race on his mind as he entered the jockey’s room at his home track on New Year’s Day.
He wanted to win the race named in honour of his good mate Trevor Lineham, who sadly passed away in May 2005 after a battle with cancer.
It was the third race on the six-race card and jumped at 3.10pm.
At 3.11pm, Bodey glanced up to the heavens aboard Bramble Blitz as he passed the winning post five-and-half lengths clear of his nearest rival, to signal the emotional fulfilment of his goal.
He had been supremely confident after trialing the former Hong Kong galloper at Woolamai the week before and urging trainer Anthony Bolden to enter it for the race.
However, Bodey retained his steely focus until the $1.70 favourite saluted, before allowing himself some time to enjoy the moment.
He spent the morning wasting to reach 63 kilograms and said it was during this time that he focused on his task.
“I was thinking about Trevor in the sauna during the morning,” he said.
“He used to come to the races with us all the time and was so good to (wife) Kristie and my girls, Tayla and Jade.
Bodey said in all those years Trevor came to the races with him and his family he never once passed judgment on him one way or the other.
“But just before he passed away, he told me that in all those years, I was the best (jockey) he’d seen. That meant a lot to me and that was another reason I wanted to win his race.
“It means a lot to me. I’ve tried with my own horses and run places, but haven’t cracked it, but this year I knew I wouldn’t have anything so I decided to try to earmark one,” he chuckled.
Bodey is on track to crack the 50-winner mark with Bramble Blitz making it 27 victories so far this season, but as usual, he was more interested in toasting his departed friend at the end of the day than thinking about himself.
“Trevor was a stalwart, not just to Pakenham, but to racing everywhere. He loved it and everybody knew him. I think I’ll have a beer or two for him tonight,” he said.