Brewin is now reaping rewards

If determination is the key to success, teenage harness racing reinsman Jayden Brewin is well and truly headed in the right direction.

The 18-year-old packed his bags late last year and headed from his home state of South Australia to try his luck in Victoria.

And now it is all starting to fall in place for the enthusiastic youngster with two driving doubles in the space of five days.

“I was starting to wonder if it was ever going to turn around for me,” a relieved Brewin said.

“But I was determined to keep doing my best and wait for a bit of luck to come my way,” he said.

Lady Luck certainly looked down on Brewin last week, but then it was up to the talented driver to grab the opportunities by the scruff of the neck and deliver. And deliver he did!

“I had a drive for John Murphy at the Geelong meeting last Wednesday and then got a late call-up from trainer Chris Romanidis to drive one for him. He had engaged Brad Chisholm, who was unavailable due to sickness,” Brewin said.

Romanidis, of Wurdiboluc, a rural town with a population of 560 in the Surf Coast Shire, 30 kms south west of Geelong, combined with Brewin to land $64 long shot Fire Up Franco (Courage Under Fire-Tishafly Franco (Falcon Seelster) in the Brays Country Clubs Pace, second heat.

Jayden Brewin, Chris Rominidis and Fire Up Franco

Two races later, Brewin scored nicely on $2.70 favorite Oscar Bravo (Village Jasper-Margaret Eden (Digger Almahurst) for Ballarat-based Murphy.

Brewin said while he had driven Oscar Bravo a number of times previously, including a Ballarat win in November, it was his first go on Fire Up Franco.

“I noticed after doing my homework that the gelding could be a handful leading up to his races,” Brewin said.

“And sure enough he tried out his bad habits (not wanting to do pre-race circling or scoring up when the mobile barrier moved off) on me, but gee he has some ability,” he said.

“Once he hits his straps and decides to get going, he’s not a problem.”

Jayden Brewin with John Murphy and Oscar Bravo

Fire Up Franco scored by just a head over Matty Craven’s runner My Harmony Blue in a brisk 1.57-3.

Brewin’s second leg of his double, Oscar Bravo had a little more breathing space on the line, winning by nearly two metres over Crafty Old Fox (Darby McGuigan).

Brewin, who works for up-and-coming trainer Jess Tubbs, said he was thoroughly enjoying his time in Victoria.

“I shifted to improve my driving skills and just by competing against the elite like Gavin Lang, Chris Alford, Greg Sugars and others, you pick up things all the time,” he said.

“I’m just loving it – although the temperatures are starting to get a little cool down here so I’m going to have to rug up!”

Brewin ventured to Cranbourne four days after his double at Geelong, this time to drive the Romanidis pair of Fire Up Franco and The Loustar (Passmaster Hanover-Lombo La Jazz (Panorama).

Fire Up Franco, despite displaying his old tricks, again proved too good at the juicy odds of 10/1, to take out the Seelite Windows & Doors Pace. And once again he didn’t dawdle, posting a mile rate of a tick over 1.58.

The Loustar rated a similar time in taking out his qualifying heat of the Bray Country Clubs Pace, at 12/1.

Brewin now has an unblemished record for Romanidis of three drives for three wins.

“It would be great for that to continue a bit longer because Chris does a really good job with them,” Brewin said.

“I’m thrilled to get drives from trainers like John (Murphy) and Chris (Romanidis) and others, as well as my boss Jess Tubbs – although I haven’t got a winner yet for Jess.”

Brewin said his Victorian stint didn’t get off on the right foot when he copped “a few holidays early on”.

“No-one knew much of me and here I was sitting on the sidelines. That just wasn’t an ideal start,” he said.

“But hopefully a few doors might open for me in the near future because some of the top concession drivers have already, or are very close, to driving out their claims.”

The youngster, who was forced to give away a potentially bright Australian rules football career through knee injuries, looks certain to be a most successful reinsman.

He landed his first winner shortly after being licensed at aged 16 and has since gone on to record an impressive 161 winners.

And he may be calling Victoria home for some time to come.

“My parents (Justine and Yvette) are keen to come across from South Australia – and they are serious about it, because they’ve just recently put their newly-developed harness racing property up for sale back home,” Brewin said.

Terry Gange

NewsAlert PR Mildura