BALLARAT trainer Darren Weir has claimed the 2011-12 south-western district trainers’ premiership by one win from the Warrnambool father-son training combination of Bill and Symon Wilde.
Weir earned the prestigious award with 32 winners from 197 runners in races in the district, while the Wildes had 31 winners from 191 runners.
Warrnambool trainers Matthew Williams, Jarrod McLean and Aaron Purcell filled third, fourth and fifth places respectively.
Williams had 21 winners from 170 runners, McLean 18 winners from 140 runners and Purcell was successful on 12 occasions from his 122 starters.
Weir, who has nearly 100 horses in work between his Ballarat and Warrnambool stables, said he was pleased to win the award.
“I think I’ve won the award three times now,” he said.
“The win is credit to our staff at Ballarat and Warrnambool.
“They all do a great job. A stable is only as good as its staff and I’m fortunate to have great staff.
“Having the stable at Warrnambool has turned into a real bonus for us as I send horses down there that may need freshening up or recovering from injuries or just need a change of environment.”
The unofficial figures — supplied by Geelong statistician Alex Risk — have Horsham-based jockey Dean Yendall as the leading jockey in the area for the 2011-12 season.
Yendall had 35 winners to his credit from 190 rides.
Warrnambool jockey Nikita McLean was in second place with 28 wins from 231 rides.
McLean’s sister Jackie Beriman finished in third place. The boom apprentice booted home 21 winners from 121 rides.
Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman took out the cross country awards.
Pateman rode 16 jumps winners from 28 races run in the district.
Warrnambool trainers on top
TRAINERS from Warrnambool produced the most winners in the south-western district during the 2011/12 racing season.
They saddled up 132 winners from 1207 runners.
Their success was up nine winners on the previous racing season.
Caulfield trainers had 38 winners from 178 runners, while Mornington trainers produced 19 winners from 152 starters.
Just Call Me Bruce has impressive run
HOBBY trainer Shane Beaton was trying to keep a lid on the impressive effort of his debut galloper Just Call Me Bruce after he won a maiden over 1300 metres at Coleraine on Sunday.
Beaton, who has his stables at Jancourt but trains at Terang, revealed the five-year-old had won a trial at Warrnambool last week.
“I think this horse might win another few races but I’m not getting too carried away at this stage,” he said.
“He’s just won a maiden but I think there’s a fair bit more improvement in him.
“He’s a big, tough, strong horse and probably the best thing is he’s bred to get over 2000 metres.
“We’ll just take him home now and see how he pulls up before making any plans for his future runs.”
Webb takes training honours
MARK Webb took the training honours at Coleraine on Sunday with a winning double.
The popular Cranbourne trainer was not on track but enjoying the festivities at the Darwin Cup Carnival.
His winners were Jockey Jack in a restricted hurdle and Tidal Command in a highweight maiden over 1600 metres.
Webb labelled Jockey Jack as a prospective Grand Annual Steeplechase horse after his hurdle victory.
“I was surprised by the win at Coleraine as the horse liked bigger jumps,” he said.
“The win at Coleraine is a bonus. I reckon next year he will develop into a handy steeplechaser.
“He loves jumping the bigger fences. We might look at running him in the South Australian Grand National Hurdle or steeplechase over the next few weeks and then he will be in the paddock.
“We’ll get him into work early next year with the Grand Annual on his agenda.”
Meanwhile, Tidal Command, which took 20 starts before he won his maiden, will be set for restricted races over longer distances.
“Its great we won a maiden with him. He’s probably been a bit unlucky not to have won his maiden before today,” Webb said. “The win is a great result for his owners, who have been very patient with the horse.”
Annual sale a highlight
MULTIPLE stakes winners and some handy gallopers highlight the annual August Inglis Thoroughbred Sale at Oaklands Junction on August 16 and 17.
More than 110 broodmares will be offered.
Broodmares entered in the main catalogue include Mark Kavanagh’s group 3 winner Valentine Miss.
Sires represented in the racing section on Friday include Artie Schiller (2), Bel Esprit (4), Choisir (3), Commands (5), Encosta de Lago (4), Exceed And Excel (2), Fastnet Rock (8), Hussonet (3), Lonhro (3), More Than Ready (2) and Not A Single Doubt (2).
