Broome races kick off for 2023

The Turf Club took Broome into the 2023 season with a top day’s racing last Saturday.

New Broome Turf Club chief executive Kelda Jones and first year president Derek Albert could not have been happier with the way the afternoon unfolded.

Perfect weather brought a bumper crowd out to the Gantheaume Point track for excitement and entertainment, and they were not disappointed.

The six-race program saw two favourites and a rank outsider salute the judge, as well as a very close finish in the last event.

It was a frontrunner’s day, with all the winners racing on the pace.

The day’s main race went to Pit to Win, ridden by apprentice Rosie Mahoney and trained at Bindoon by Bruce Kay. The gelding, on its third trip to Broome, backed up its win in the race last year.

Evergreen trainer Darryn Patemen tasted early success when favourite Paeroa Lad won the first by three lengths.

Prince Saiyan, owned and trained by the Martin family from Muchea, took out the second narrowly over favourite Ornamental Belle.

Perth-based trainer Luke Morton’s Ain’t I A Woman won race three by two lengths and the even-money grey Rogues Point led all the way to win race four by five lengths, giving the Anthony Barton stable its first win of the season.

The program wrapped up with a win for 25-1 outsider Danehill Storm, ridden by Cassey Martinan, who claimed a riding double after her earlier success on Ain’t I A Woman.

Danehill Storm’s trainer Angela Smith was delighted, as the eight-year-old gelding had won in Broome and Derby last year, so perhaps punters have short memories.

The Broome racing season continues Saturday.