By Duane Ranger
Not long after Emmett Brosnan completed the best three days of his driving career in Australia last Friday night his Hall-Of Fame-Dad, Richard was also notching up his first winner of the season some 2,657km away.
The father-son combo won races within 90 minutes of each other when Brosnan junior and the Geoff Webster trained Kotare York won the second race at Melton’s Tabcorp Park. They were the $2.80 favourites.
Brosnan senior won behind the 4-year-old gelding he trains – Sea Eyre in the 10th race at Alexandra Park. They were the 10thfavourites and paid $28 to win.
“I’ve had a good week in the sulky and to have Dad win almost at the same time as me capped it off nicely. I worked for Dad before coming over here. He has always been my inspiration and taught me so much. It’s been a good week for us both,” the 29-year-old Bannockburn (near Geelong) horseman said.
Brosnan also won behind his boss Geoff Webster’s 2-year-old gelding Mista Lombo at Horsham last Wednesday and then the following night the concession driver again did the business for his employer when he got Mighty Moke Lombo up to win the third event.
“I realise I can never drive the whole team but Geoff is awesome to work for. He believes in me and supports me a great deal. I really enjoy working for him because he gives me a lot of confidence,” Brosnan said.
The Auckland-born Brosnan worked for his father after leaving Scared Heart College. He drove five winners between 2006 and 2009 and then relocated to Australia late that year.
“It all started through Pompallier and when Dad was campaigning him in Australia in 2006. I followed and word got around that I’d like to further my career in Australia.
“Dad spoke to Lance who in turn spoke to Geoff. Lance and Geoff were both from South Australia and got talking. A couple years later I ended up working for Geoff and have been here since,” said Brosnan.
The former Kiwi has driven about 200 winners since relocating, including a Group Three and Kira Jo’s Group Two win in the $25,000 Vicbred Platinum Classic in September, 2014.
“This season just finishing I had a win/place-to-starts percentage of 51.9, which worked out to be 67 top three finishes from 129 starts with a win-rate of 18.6%. So it hasn’t been not a bad season for that number of drives.
“At this stage of my life I’m here to stay. My partner Bridie is a training to be a vet and we are building a house in Geelong. My Brother Richard (junior) also lives over here (Melbourne) and my sister Virginia is an equine vet at Melton.
“Only Mum and Dad and my other sister Soraya are back in New Zealand and my parents have sold their property. I’m not sure what they will do but Dad is a horseman through and through and it’s been that way all of his life and will probably stay that way.
“I never got to see him win those big races with Bonnie Chance and no Response but I certainly remember the Pompaliier days. It is an honour to have a Hall-of-Famer in my family. I am very proud and in awe of him,” Brosnan said.
Brosnan took out his trainer’s licence last year and won with his first starter – Action Kosmos at Yarra Valley last December.
He also won his first drive in Australia behind the Webster trained Me Ole Mate Lombo, also at Yarra Valley, in December 2009.
Webster currently works a team of 25-30 in Bannockburn.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
