BREDHAUER SCORES AGAIN AT BIRDSVILLE CUP MEETING
THE saying goes - you can take the boy out of the bush but you can never take the bush out of the boy - and that certainly applies to Peter Bredhauer.
After travelling to some of the biggest race meetings around the world, Bredhauer says there is one major he would never miss – the Holy Grail of bush racing – the Birdsville Cup.
Bredhauer has just returned from a 5,000km road trip which took in the two-day Birdsville race meeting and the bird life at Lake Eyre. “I took a Pommy tourist along for the ride to sample the real Australian outback,” he said.
It was a successful trip for Bredhauer, who races Digging Deep, winner of the final race on day two of the carnival. He had previously won at Birdsville with Royal Corinto in the 1980s and Marena Lad a few years back.
“This was my 12th trip to Birdsville. During that time I have also worked there on occasions as the race caller and a bookmaker. I’ve been to a Japan and Dubai Cup, many Melbourne Cups, to Hong Kong and to Singapore but I just keep going back to Birdsville.
“I don’t know what the attraction is. It is something unique in the middle of the desert. There is something totally different about it.”
Bredhauer says this year’s crowd of close to 8,000 was the biggest he has seen. “There were 18 bookies on track to accommodate them and they held in excess of $500,000. One bet of $10,000 to $200 each-way was laid about a horse that was beaten a head. You would be flat out getting that on at some of the near Brisbane TAB tracks.”
He has seen some major change at Birdsville over the years. “The public facilities are much better. There’s now a big betting shed for the bookies and patrons, Sky calls, price fluctuations and the track itself has been improved.
“I’ve seen over 400 light aircraft there. But those who want to come by car or coach had better be ready for plenty of dirt road. Most camp under the stars. We throw a sheep crate on the back of the ute.”
A former director of the Brisbane Turf Club and current member of the First Level Racing Appeals Panel, Bredhauer is now based near Toowoomba where he runs a spelling property, operates a bloodstock company and continues to work in the racing media for Sport 927 in Melbourne.
Bredhauer’s winner, Digging Deep, is trained at Roma by Craig Smith, who has been a great supporter of the Birdsville Cup meeting over the years. Smith and jockey Tony Patillo also combined to win with Clinto Khan.
PHOTOS FROM BIRDSVILLE CUP MEEETING TAKEN BY KERRY JOHNSON