76-year-old registers milestone victory

VETERAN horseman Barry Beasley registered a personal milestone earlier this week.

A result of what he refers to as “a lifetime in the game”, 76-year-old Beasley registered his 100th win thanks to Pretty Basic’s victory in Hamilton.

Cydust provided Beasley with his maiden triumph by scoring in Warrnambool on March 14, 1982.

“I only ever train a couple at a time and sometimes that couple might not be much good,” Beasley said.

“My grandfather Harry Elliott trained horses many years ago and I’m the only one of his grandkids who followed him to it.

“My son Trevor followed me into it for a little while, but gave it away to take over our dairy farm.

“I do get help from my brother-in-law Doug Coxon and we just tick along together.

“After a lifetime in the game, I still love working with the horses and get enjoyment out of getting a winner.”

With Nicholas O’Connor in the cart, Pretty Basic was settled two-back along the pegs from barrier six as Famous Label led from gate two.

Finishing strongly along the sprint lane, the son of Always B Miki reached the front in the last stride to score by a half-head from Huxham Chubb.

Famous Label battled on to be a metre-and-a-half away third.

Also owned by Beasley, Pretty Basic rated 1:59.6 over 2160 metres as a $17 outsider.

“I didn’t really give him a winning chance,” Beasley said. “I thought at best he’d run a place.

“He had all the luck in the world, which happens occasionally, and is nice when it does.

“I knew I was closing in on 100 as my late friend pointed out to me several months ago I was on 98, but I didn’t give it a thought I was going for 100 on Monday.

“He’s been up for a while, and winter is coming, so he will probably go for a spell now.”