Silver lining during period of dark clouds

LIKE so many Australians, Brian Carey’s business came to a halt in March.

Making regular interstate trips via his Carey Horse Transport operation, Carey suddenly found himself with “too much time on my hands”.

Although he could have sort out an exemption to continue transporting horses, Carey decided the risk was too great for his family.

“I didn’t want to travel interstate while covid was so rampant due to health risk with my wife Carol and her mother Norma,” Carey explained.

“Carol is in her 70s and her mum just turned 100 in August, so I wasn’t prepared to potentially expose them to it.

“So I shut down for a while and all of a sudden I had too much time on my hands.

“Carol then suggested I train a horse of two to keep me occupied which is what I did.”

As such a deal was struck with Crossfirehall’s owners which has led to a pair of Club Menangle wins, including an effortless victory yesterday.

With Carey in the cart, Crossfirehall was angled to pegs from barrier three to gain the run of the race behind the leader, Brexitt.

Pulled to the outside at the top of the home straight, the son of Blissfull Hall sprinted to a 15-metre win from Lucky Leigh, with Rum Delight two metres away third in 1:53.6 over the mile.

“He went super yesterday…I’m stoked with him,” Carey said.

“A mate of mine rang me about a guy who wanted to send a horse to Queensland and I ended up talking to him about how I was looking for a horse or two and he let me train him.

“That’s his second win now, so it’s been great for all involved.

“I’ll put around at Menangle again next week and hopefully he can go as well as he did yesterday.”