Shiers claims first win in 13 months on Crazy Brave at Darwin
After 13 months, popular Darwin jockey Paul Shiers returned to his winning ways at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Sidelined with a serious bicep injury suffered in a race last February, Shiers was victorious aboard five-year-old gelding Crazy Brave — a horse he also trains — over 1200m at BM76 level.
Cruising in third place behind Phil Cole’s $7 hope Star Magnum and Gary Clarke’s $4 prospect Mr Cashman, Shiers left the fence turning for home before the son of Zoustar — the $2.80 favourite with online bookmakers — swooped to seal victory by two lengths.
Mr Cashman, a last-start winner over Jason Manning’s talented Bon’s Pride in December, was second, with Cole’s Darwin Guineas winner Tubthumper in third.
Shiers only returned to action in last Saturday’s Australia Day meeting with a single ride aboard Chloe Baxter’s Siberian Larch, who was eighth in the $40,000 Lightning Wet Season Final (1200m).
Siberian Larch was one of two rides Shiers had on Saturday, with the five-year-old gelding once again finishing unplaced.
It was a winning double at Darwin for in-form hoop Raymond Vigar when former WA galloper Pushover saluted at $9.50 odds for trainer Tayarn Halter over 1100m in 0-64 grade before Baxter’s $5 chance Shecanmixit won her first race since June 2024.
Prior to Pushover’s triumph, stablemate Rip Edition dislodged jockey Stan Tsaikos en route to the gates and was sadly euthanised from injuries suffered after crashing through the outside rail.
Manning’s $2.20 favourite Brazen Bon, a full brother to Bon’s Pride and ridden by Vanessa Arnott, gave the leaders a big start before saluting by 3.8 lengths in a BM54 event over 1200m.
Chris Pollard claimed the 1300m maiden trifecta when $2.50 favourite Miss Moov, ridden by Tsaikos, snuck home from $5 pop Go Barney Go with $3.10 aspirant No I’m Not a distant third.
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