Crazy Brave provided trainer/rider Paul Shiers with two notable achievements from his dominant win in the Sportsbet Handicap, the feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

Shiers, one of the best riders seen in the Top End in the past 25 years, also had a trainers’ license back in the early 2000’s and saddled up 19 winners from about 120 runners. His last win as a trainer came with Trafford on September 3, 2004 and he only recently took out a dual trainer/jockey license again.

At just his second ride back after a 12-month injury break with a torn bicep muscle, Shiers gave his charge a beautiful ride to return to the winner’s circle as a triumphant jockey.

Crazy Brave began well enough from the 1200m barrier and trailed the leaders, Star Magnum and Mr Cashman, to the home turn, at which point Shiers angled his mount out three wide and into the clear. He hit the front soon after and, despite loafing in the final stages, was two lengths clear of Mr Cashman at the line.

Tubthumper finished off well to get third, 1 1/2 lengths away, with Star Magnum close up next.

Crazy Brave is raced by the trainers/rider’s wife, Leola, and a group of friends, which includes the former Darwin trainer, Melinda Boothby, as well as Bedros Garske, who is Shiers’ boss at his “day job” as a storeman at industry materials supplier Rhino Industrial.

He’s a lovely horse and can only get better,” Shiers said. “He switched off once he got to the front and had plenty more in the tank.”

A five-year-old son of Zoustar from an I Am Invincible mare, Crazy Brave has won four times from just 16 starts, and with three seconds and three thirds as well, has total stakes of just over $105,000.

Brazen Bon, aided by a fine ride from Vanessa Arnott, proved a class above his rivals, in the Renew Your Membership Handicap (1200m)

After beginning on terms with his rivals, the brother to Bon’s Pride got a fair way back in the field as Change Is Coming led clearly.

Arnott angled her mount towards the rail at the turn off the back straight and Brazen Bon stormed up on his inner and raced right away to score by just under four lengths from To The Point, who ran a good race fresh with Global Wonder and margin back third.

Brazen Bon, trained by Jason Manning, has now won two of his three Top End Starts – he finished second in the other – and appears to have a bright future. He Has three wins from just nine starts and stakes of almost $47,000.

Popular trainer Chris Pollard saddled up the trifecta in the day’s opener, the Sky Racing Maiden Plate (1300m), with Miss Moov, Go Barney Go and No I’m Not Finishing in that order.

Go Barney Go led Miss Moov at a moderate pace and the pair put pressure into the race with about 600m to run.

They got clear of their rivals approaching the home turn and had the race to themselves for the length of the home straight with Miss Moov (Stan Tsaikos) just getting the better of Go Barney Go (Hannah Le Blanc) by a neck. No I’m Not Finishing was a further 6 3/4 lengths away third.

Pushover owned by former leading Darwin trainer Lynne Williams – who is now in WA – stormed home from last on the home turn to spoil the party for Sonja Logan in the fourth heat of the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Series (1100m)

Logan, seeking her 500th win, looked on target when polorising hit the front around the home turn and kicked clear.

But Pushover, with Ray Vigar at his vigorous best, found another gear to sweep past Polarising to score by a neck from Soul Spirit, who finished off well out in the middle of the track, with the same margin back to a weakening Polarising.

Trained by Tayarn Halter, Pushover had not started since he finished down the track at Kununurra at the end of August last year.

The four-year-old had won his previous two races on the dirt at Broome and has now won four of his 11 starts for connections.

Chloe Baxter, having endured a frustrating run of seconds (seven) this season, gained an overdue win when Shecanmixit gave Vigar a race-to-race double in the St Patrick’s Day Races 15 March Handicap (1000m).

Shecanmixit, having her first start since October 5, sat just behind the pace set by Hey Little Sister, Valaroc and Siberian Larch and was poised to pounce as heads turned for home.

Valaroc soon after got the better of Hey Little Sister but could not withstand the powerful finish of Shecanmixit, who finished down the centre of the course for a 1 1/4- length victory. Valaroc fought on well and was the same margin clear of Hey Little Sister in third.

Story Courtesy of Andrew O’Toole