By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Fernvale horseman, Al Barnes, has a new lease of life, a second wind even.
The 51-year-old, who trained his 305th career winner at Redcliffe Paceway on Monday (January 22), said he loved working in an industry where he could be so close to his driving sons, Brendan and Hayden. He also loves his full-time job as the ground and maintenance manager at Albion Park.
“I’ve been on the Albion Park staff casually since 2015, and full-time the last two years. I love the job. I really enjoy coming to work. No two days are the same and it’s extremely fulfilling and satisfying. Most days I’m up at 3.30am working my horses, so the days are long, but pretty satisfying,” Barnes said,
Barnes, who moved the 58km from Tallegalla six months ago, works a team of five racehorses, and two youngsters from his rented stables at Fernvale.
And it was his Bettor’s Delight gelding, Brian Christopher, who rewarded his hard work at Redcliffe Paceway on Monday. It was Barnes’ second win of the season after the stable star he trains and co-owns – the gutsy free-for-all, Northview Hustler – won back-to-back races at Albion Park on January 06 and December 30.
Barnes has now trained 305 winners since he took out his licence in the 1992-1993 season. From his 3,051 starts, he has also placed 588 times and netted $1.79 million in purses. Northview Hustler (1:50.6) is the best horse that Barnes has trained. To date that 10-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding has won 25 of his 166 starts (36 placings) and banked $412,138 in stakes.
“This fella (Brian Christopher) is no Northview Hustler, but he tries very hard and we all thought he would be tough to beat when he dropped in class on Monday.”
The 6-year-old bay dead-heated race five with the Nathan Rothwell trained and driven Playa Blanca. Brian Christopher, who was the hot $1.45 favourite, was driven by Barnes’ youngest son, Brendan.
“Everyone loves winning, but it’s always that bit more special when one of your children does the driving. You will know that well, Duane with Monika in New Zealand. It’s a feeling only parents experience. It’s hard to explain really, but you never tire of it.
“They have driven more than 1,400 winners (%10.2 million) between them [Brendan 903 wins ($6.7m) and Hayden 523 wins ($3.5m)]. I’m loving life at the moment – and you can put that all down to family, work, and my horses,” Barnes said.
“I realised how fortunate I was to have driving sons when I was in hospital in January 2020 watching them win a third of the card on TV,” he added.
Brian Christopher led all the way in Monday’s $4,000 NR up to 70 Pace. He stopped the clock in 2:13.6 (mile rate 2:00.8) at the end of the 1,780m mobile.
He has now won 11 of his 80 starts and placed in 23 others ($64,469) since he made his debut ninth at Cambridge Raceway in New Zealand in July 2020.
Barnes said he got him in early 2021 after he had eight races in New Zealand, for one Manawatu victory. He is solely owned by Barnes and was bred by Tony & Leanne Grayling, and Steve & Stef Cornwall – all of Auckland.
“He is just a lovely, quiet horse to have around. I’ve had him since he was a 3-year-old. He’s easy to train and always does what’s asked of his. He’s no superstar, but I think he can definitely win a few more. He drew well in a race which suited him down to the ground. He ran second in 1:54 at Albion Park the start before, so I knew this would be a lot easier.
“BC wouldn’t be in the top three in my stable. I’ve got a Downbytheseaside 2-year-old colt, and a Sweet Lou filly named Sweetformysweet, who is a half-sister to the 1:51 miler, My Hard Copy (27 races and $1.2 million),” Barnes who has fully recovered from a heart attack he in suffered in early 2020..
Barnes works his team at Marburg 15 minutes away, before driving an hour to his job at ‘The Creek’.
“Ken (Rutherford) is doing a good job here, and I just enjoy working there. It has given me a new ;lease of life. It’s not really a job to me now. It’s a lifestyle, which I really enjoy!” Barnes said.
“Where else can you do what you love, and be so close to your sons at the same time?” he added.
