Canberra welcomes new Trainer Becky Byrne

It took Becky Byrne, just 48 hours to register her first winner as a Canberra Trainer. Byrne began training operations in the Nation’s Capital on Monday, 19 June becoming the newest Trainer based in Canberra.

Byrne moved to Canberra from Queanbeyan and is excited by the wonderful training and racing facilities that Thoroughbred Park has to offer. 

“The facilities here are first class.” Byrne said. “It feels like I’m back at Randwick, the pool and quality of tracks are exceptional, you’ve just got everything at your finger tips.”

“I’m really excited by the move and I’m confident I’ll be able to improve my horses. I’ll be able to get them a lot fitter with these new facilities.”

Byrne, a third generation Trainer after her grandfather and father, began her training career from her parents’ property in the ranges near Thredbo and Mount Kosciuszko. After a stint training from Orange, Byrne spent time working under leading Trainers Gary Portelli and James Cummings before his move to Godolphin.

Byrne’s move to Canberra has yielded immediate success with her ninth career winner, and first as a Canberra Trainer, coming just a day after her move, with Jacob Joe who produced a superior final furlong to take out the McDonalds Shoalhaven Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Nowra on Tuesday, 20 June.

“It was that one morning swim in the equine pool that got him over the line” Byrne joked.

“It was a long-time coming, it was a very pleasing win. It’s my first win for a great new bunch of owners so hopefully the first of many.”

 Canberra Racing Club Racing and Equine Welfare Chris Polglase said, “The Club welcomes Becky to the training ranks at Thoroughbred Park where we are confident that she can take the next step in her training career.”

“To gain a new Trainer is fantastic but to gain a young person is especially pleasing. Becky will also mean we have further female representation in our training ranks, something that I think is important for many of our young women to see and aspire too.”

Byrne will saddle up Lunar Ashes this Friday at Thoroughbred Park in her first home meeting as a Canberra Trainer. She will also have Rosy Sue trial after the last.