Episode 313: Brett Bellamy

Great to catch up with Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Bellamy who grew up among the Hawkesbury race crowd but moved to the north coast with his family as a 17 year old. All he ever wanted to do was train racehorses. He talks of early days in the Hawkesbury Valley. Brett talks of his 35 years as a commercial trainer and the facilities available at the Coffs Harbour track. He mentions the famous Boambee Beach. He talks of the support he’s had over the years from Queensland’s Kruger family who operate the famous Lyndhurst Stud at Warwick. Brett looks back on a two year learning stint with astute trainer Mal Barnes at Randwick. He befriended a stable apprentice who has become a popular figure on Sydney racing media. He remembers his happy two years with the breeding arm of the famous Lindsay Park operation at Angaston in South Australia. Colin Hayes made regular appearances at the stud. Brett met his future wife Julie at the Angaston pub. The trainer looks back on a one season job with a small Tamworth stud. He remembers the beginning of his training career at Coffs and Mahlula Star, the horse to get him up and running. Brett looks back on the curiously named Chocolate Starfish who provided him with a few thrills on city tracks. He looks back on fun times with Sectagonal, a horse he purchased from Sydney connections for $12,500. He won 9 races with the Octagonal gelding including eight on Brisbane metropolitan tracks. Brett acknowledges several horses who’ve kept the stable flag flying. He talks of a special day at Armidale when he provided the first race win for a jockey who was destined for the big stage. The young jockey ran into some trouble with the stewards on the day. Brett recalls his association with another burgeoning riding star, and pays tribute to some of the talented apprentices to come under his care over the years. He recalls the impact of the tragic accident suffered by one of those apprentices Daniel Baker who died two days after a Grafton race fall- the lowest point in Brett’s career. Brett talks of his current apprentice, 18 year old daughter Courtney who rode her third winner from just over 30 rides at Port Macquarie last week. He’s very happy with her progress. He predicts a future away from racing for 16 year old son Declan. Brett pays a special tribute to his stable jockey Raymond Spokes. He says Spokes is one of the most reliable jockeys he’s ever known. It’s a nice yarn with a popular country trainer.