Kermadec ends run of outs for veteran Devonport trainer

17 January 2022 | Duncan Dornauf
Logo

Devonport trainer Bevan Thomas ended a run of outs when five-year-old mare Kermadec flashed home to score in Hobart on Sunday night to give the 78-year-old trainer his first winner since February 2018.

The daughter of Betterthancheddar ended up one-out and one-back in the mile event before running over the top of her rivals late courtesy of a well-judged drive by in-form driver Conor Crook.

“She was knocking on the door. She ran third in Launceston and then a second in Burnie before her last start in Devonport,” said a delighted winning trainer Bevan Thomas post race.

Kermadec was only having her sixth start since joining his stable and arrived in his care on the advice of Barrie Rattray.

“I leased her off Barrie Rattray, I had a mare here of my own that I had been working and I took her up to the Carrick trials for Barrie to test her out for me, and he told me that I was wasting my time with her and that he had a better one at home in the yard that I could lease, so that’s how I ended up with Kermadec,” explained Thomas.

Bevan Thomas currently has three in work and was one of the last trainers based on track at the Devonport Showgrounds.

“There is plenty to do, and it keeps me moving, and you can’t go anywhere in the world now. I only come home and go to the stables,” said Thomas about his hobby.

The winning trainer has been involved as an owner and breeder for many decades but only took out his trainer license in the 2004/2005 season.

“My wife Dianne’s father and uncle used to have horses at Scamander many years ago, and we ended up with the horses, so along with my brother-in-law, we used to breed them and break them in and send them off to other trainers to race.

“Then when I moved to Devonport, I use to jog them up, and my brother-in-law Billy Semmens use to train them in Hobart at the Showgrounds, but when that closed down he gave them away, so I finished up training them in here at the Devonport Showgrounds,” explained Thomas.

The winning trainer and part-owner indicated he would look to find suitable races for Kermadec going forward.

 

Related News

28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
28 March 2024
Jack ready to show off the next generation of stars at Bathurst
Nathan Jack has his next generation of stars ready to lead a northern assault on Bathurst's two-year-old Group 1s Saturday night, eager to emulate the stable's 2023 success.
28 March 2024
Steve Cleave's Little Black Book $200 game plans for Melton
Steve Cleave has looked through his Little Black Book to produce a $200 game plan for Easter Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park.
28 March 2024
Jase and Snooze join Ryan for Burning Questions
Chris Svanosio and Jason Lee join Ryan Phelan to look ahead to a fantastic night of Easter Saturday racing from Melton Entertainment Park.
Click for more