THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - BYRNE TURNS BACK THE CLOCK. FOURTH TITLE WITHIN GRASP

By Graham Potter | Sunday, July 5, 2015

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

Jim Byrne is busy turning back the clock.

The three-time Brisbane Premiership winner is in prime position to take out the title once again at the end of the month, seventeen years after he landed his first Premiership back in 1997/98.

That was when he broke Mick Pelling’s grip on the Premiership (Pelling had won it for three straight seasons before that). Pelling came back at him again the following season but Byrne was strong enough to claim successive Premierships riding 72.5 winners to Pelling’s 67.

Nine years later, in the 2007/8 season Byrne claimed the title for a third time.

A fourth title would place Byrne joint fourth on the list of official, confirmed Jockey Premiership winners alongside Graham Cook, Colin O’ Neil and his old sparring partner Mick Pelling.

One ahead of this group (with five Premierships) is Mick Dittman who, in turn, is only headed by Russell Maddock (with nine Premierships in the nineteen fortys and fiftys) and Bill Briscoe (also in the fortys). Billy Hill is reputed to have topped them all but no official records were kept at the time of his dominance.

Byrne’s longevity is a credit to his work ethic and fitness regime, not to mention the talent and sustained enthusiasm and confidence that it has taken to get himself into such elite company.

Sometimes we, as racegoers, tend to take familiar faces for granted but, the bottom line is, for Byrne to win this seasons title is a significant achievement which is worthy of celebration.

Byrne will say he hasn’t won it yet.

A month ago when he first headed long-time Premiership leader Luke Tarrant, Byrne dismissed any title talk, saying he didn’t believe in going off with ‘an early crow’ and couldn’t understand why some people want to call result when it is in fact far from decided.

Byrne is right of course ... and the suspension he picked up last Saturday has added a late twist to the story but chances are it is just a minor hiccup in the final chase to the line.

If Byrne does get up it will be a very satisfying victory as well as a significant achievement.

Either way, he and his manager Cameron Partington have had an outstanding season.

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It is gratifying to know that a meeting has taken place between all interested parties with regard to the Eagle Farm track project which requires a previously promised $12 million loan from a previous government to be made available from the present government so that the project can progress.

It has been reported that an announcement to this effect is imminent and the importance of both the approval being sanctioned by the present government and the speed in which they move to do so now cannot be exaggerated.

The extended delay has long been a cause of frustration, anger, disappointment ... whatever you want to call it ... to stakeholders, but most are ready to relegate what has gone before to an unfortunate experience and that majority would now be happy to move forward with the confidence that a positive announcement about Eagle Farm would bring.

Imminent indeed!

Let’s hope it is so.

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