LIAM BIRCHLEY IS TRAINER OF THE YEAR

Liam Birchley, who took out the Queensland Racing, Jim Atkins Trainer Of The Year award at a function at a city hotel last night, did not even think he would be nominated, let alone take out the prestigious prize.

“I really didn’t even consider it as a possibility”, said Birchley, “but now that it has happened I’m very grateful for the recognition. It is an honour.”

The recognition was achieved via a combination of hard work, perseverance and, ultimately, results, but Birchley was quick to point out that this past season had been a difficult one for all trainers, to the degree where just surviving could be seen as something of a victory.

“We all had a tough time with EI,” explained Birchley. “EI was new to us. Once the horses had been treated there was no right or wrong way to move forward and so there were many strategies put into play by different trainers.

“I put all my horses out,” continued Birchley. “I didn’t want to put any of them under any unnecessary stress. I just didn’t know enough about the virus and thought that would be the safer option.

“Some other trainers just kept going with their horses and they came good and won lots more races than I did, so, like I said, there was no right or wrong way of going about business. You went with your gut feeling and hope you came through.”

When he turned his horses out for a spell, Birchley did have some long term goals for his better runners on their return. He was eyeing the Queensland Winter Carnival, then many months away.

“My hope was that I would be in a position to do well at our Carnival, but at that stage that was all it was – a hope. There were no guarantees and I was just extremely lucky that some of my horses did come good at the right time and we got a fair run of results.”

Which win, if any, was a standout highlight of the season?

“I have to mention Pepperwood first,” answered Birchley. “His win in the BTC Classic was quite outstanding, yet he was such an unlucky horse during the Carnival. He just couldn’t draw a barrier. If he had you would have heard a lot more of him.

“Then, of course, there is Vietnam and Rags To Riches ... but I guess at the end of the day, I’d have to go for Devil Inside’s win in the Lightning Handicap as the highlight.

“Maybe it was the fact that it was her last run,” continued Birchley.

“Devil Inside had been sold to Jon Haseler of Glenlogan Park only a few weeks before that run and he let me do what I wanted with the horse. He let me place it where I wanted ... and to get a great send-off result like that in such scintillating fashion was really very satisfying for me.”

So to the last word ... Birchley’s acknowledgement of the part played by his staff in his success.

“Any trainer needs to have good staff if they are ever going to do well,” commented Birchley, “and I think I have got some of the best. I thank them all very much for what they have done to help keep the stable moving ahead.”