Star mentor Jason Magri has claimed 189 races so far in 2025 but you get the feeling Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Brother Fox victory by Speedy Pie may have been the sweetest.
The daughter of Fernando Bale x Sweet City Woman has come oh so close to claiming a marquee race victory this season, and after several near misses around the state, connections can now raise a glass to their Group 2-winning star.
“Finally,” a relieved Magri said post-race.
“[I’m] a lot happier, it’s good when we pull it off. She ran second at the start of the year [behind Gets Late early in the May edition of the race] and now she’s won it so it’s a good achievement for her.”
Speedy Pie fending off the luckless local hope Sooty Keeping (Charmaine Roberts) in a driving finish to claim the race by 0.03 of a length in 29.65. Canya Brew It ran home into third for Joe Mcfadyen.
The win taking her career record to 68: 25-19-7 with more than $177,000 in earnings and justifying the decision by connections to chase the popular country feature.
“I like going to the country tracks, it’s a great atmosphere, the people are great, they welcome you here and I train for a lot of people in the country so I like coming up here,” Magri added.
“She’s nearly four…[she will be] at the start of January…so she might be retired, I’m not sure, I’ve got to speak to the owners…but if not, she’ll probably just go back to Wenty for the Paul Wheeler.”
The heats of the Group 1 Paul Wheeler – Simply The Best are slated for December 13, with the $75,000 final on December 20.
Later in the night, the $20,000 Bill & Peg Memorial final was taken out by Zipping Augusta and Minnie Finn.
The winner a son of star sprinter Zipping Kyrgios who claimed a memorable win on the same track back in the 2022 Ladbrokes Country Classic.
Zipping Kyrgios and Minnie Finn after the 2022 Ladbrokes Country Classic win
“I was rapt tonight because he’s by the king, Zipping Kyrgios…[it’s the] first litter I’ve had by Kyrgios and they’re very good chasers so I’m very happy,” Finn said.
“It’s real good prize money and it’s a good opportunity for young dogs being a 0 -2 race. I put him in last week, [it was his] first start, he’s been broken in here but never been over 500m, only ever 300m.”
The victory a special moment for the Finn camp with Minnie’s granddaughter Charlee - the 14-year-old daughter of Courtney Barnes - handling the winner.
“Charlee has been involved with us ever since she was a baby, a while ago she got the junior license and she’s been breaking her neck to handle them,” Finn added.
“I know what I was like when I was a young girl who loved the sport and it’s good, she’s loving it. She boxed this one tonight and she works hard at home and she’s getting the reward.”
In the night’s other features, Kaycee Tracey took out the Zipping Kyrgios @ Stud Mega Maiden (318m) in a time of 18.20 for Darren Mines, while Goanna Blue won the Feral Franky @ Stud Future Stars final over 400m for Robert Littlefield.
