Whether you’re competing in the professional or amateur ranks, it’s quite a feat to win nine races in a single month. Dubbo trainer Connie Greig did exactly that in March with a team of just twenty two horses in work. Eight of her wins were recorded at amateur Cup meetings, with the ninth at a professional fixture.
Connie began the month with a treble at Tottenham courtesy of Inzaghi (Tottenham Picnic Cup), Pahang and Yorker. Leandro Ribeiro rode all three. Ten days later she ran first and second with Celtic Harp and Pahang in a Cl 1 at Moree with Ken Dunbar on the winner. On March 18th Connie and Leandro Ribeiro grabbed another treble at Ardlethan with Benyetta, Valadyium (Ardethlan Picnic Cup) and Cheeky Nugget. Connie rounded off a great month with a double at the Tullibigeal picnics on March 25th. She scored with Hot Press and Everyone both ridden by Sally Faulks who was making her debut as an amateur jockey. Sally was over the moon to win on Everyone at her very first race ride, never dreaming she’d make it a double on Hot Press later in the day.
Everyone (outside) gives Sally Faulks her first win at the Tullibigeal Picnics. She made it a double later in the day - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Connie Greig began her training career at Hawkesbury as recently as 2008, after several years as an in demand trackwork rider for local trainers. Connie’s reputation in that capacity earned her the role of trackwork rider for Apache Cat whenever trainer Greg Eurell brought the champion sprinter to Sydney. She also had the pleasure of looking after Apache Cat in Brisbane when the brilliant gelding won the 2009 Doomben $10,000.
Connie with one of her favourites Billy Bent Ear. From left Connie, Leandro Ribeiro, Julia Presits, and Sam Thompson - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
A quirky mare called Lay Down Sally was Connie’s first winner as a trainer in her own right at Bathurst in 2010. She won ten races with the consistent Reigns Above, most of them on western district tracks. She found herself spending so much time out west it made good sense to relocate her training operation to Dubbo in 2016. The talented horsewoman hasn’t looked back. She won the picnic trainer’s premiership last season and has a big lead on the current trainer’s ladder. Last October she qualified six runners for the Picnic Championship Final at Dubbo, winning the race with Hemsted and also providing 3rd and 4th placegetters. Hemsted was ridden by Leandro Ribeiro who also owns the horse.
Connie’s nine win haul for March is deserving of the Pryde’s Country Trainer Monthly award. Twelve complimentary bags of Pryde’s EasiPerformance will soon land at her Dubbo training base. We’ll have more on Connie Greig’s racing life in the near future.
Another of Connie's favourites Deel Street snatches victory at Kembla on 22/10/2022 with Anna Roper on board - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - After Hemsted's win in the Picnic Championship Final at Dubbo 2022. From left Craig Tyack, Connie, Amber Collins and Leandro Ribeiro - owner and jockey - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.)