PETTICOAT GAVE HER OPPOSITION THE SLIP AT WYONG

Petticoat's prominent white blaze stood out as she thundered home at Wyong on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Mares like Petticoat don’t come along too often. Apart from the talent that has enabled her to win $300,000 in prize money, the four year old doesn’t have a single bad habit. “She’s an absolute dream to train and is a favourite with everyone on my team,” says Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson. “She’ll work whatever we want her to work, and you simply can’t fault her on race days. Petticoat has so much gate speed she usually finds herself in front which sometimes makes her an easy mark for an attacker. No matter what happens you can bet she’ll keep trying right to the line. I’d love to have another three or four like her.”

Brett’s original target for his consistent mare was next Saturday’s Magic Millions Country Cup on the Gold Coast, but he had to rethink the situation when Petticoat fell short of meeting all qualifying clauses. “There was also a Class 6 race on Magic Millions day, but that’s certain to be a high pressure contest,” said the trainer. “We immediately changed plans and nominated for the Lawrie McKinna Mayor’s Cup (BM78) over a very suitable 1100m at Wyong’s city class meeting. We felt she’s the type of mare who would scoot around Wyong and we furthered our chances by using Anna Roper’s 2kg claim.”

To use popular greyhound racing jargon Petticoat “pinged the lids” as usual and immediately claimed the lead. Any chance of an easy time in front was thwarted by Canberra mare Kimberley Secrets who began to over race and was allowed to stride by Coriah Keatings. Kimberley Secrets raced outside Petticoat to the turn but was left floundering when the leader cornered much better and straightened up two lengths in front. Kimberley Secrets got going again late, but her Coffs Harbour rival was off and gone. On the line it was Petticoat by just under a length with Be Quiet third and favourite Beside the Ocean fourth looking like a mare needing further. Despite Petticoat’s consistent recent form, Brett has opted for a spell in the belief the mare is still on the way up.

Anna Roper made it 40.5 wins for the season when she led throughout on Petticoat at Wyong - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Dodson gives partner and fellow trainer Sally Taylor much of the credit for his acquisition of Petticoat at the Gold Coast yearling sale in 2023. “Sally saw her before I did,” says Brett. “She pleaded with me to have a look at the Better Than Ready filly from Costume and didn’t let up until I did. She was clearly stamped by her sire with a prominent blaze and three white stockings. We were not the only buyers interested and it took a bid of $100,000 to get her back to Coffs Harbour. Sally also gets the credit for the naming of the filly. She suggested Petticoat as a pretty clever name for a filly by Better Than Ready from Costume, and many will see the cheeky side of her reasoning.

Brett quickly put together a syndicate comprising existing and new clients while retaining a share himself. The trainer’s co owners Anthony Dutton, Gavin Galvin, Bob Chambers, Brian and Jill Wright, David Dannat and Brian Andrews are all enjoying a fun ride that looks far from finished. After just 15 runs Petticoat has put together a record of five wins and five placings with three of those wins at metropolitan level. Two TAB Highway wins at Randwick preceded Saturday’s Wyong success. “There’s no doubt she’s getting stronger all the time,” said Brett. “She went ahead leaps and bounds this preparation and I’m confident she’s not there yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a stakes win in this mare next time in.”

Petticoat coasted home in her second TAB Highway win at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day with Anna Roper in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Tamworth born Brett Dodson isn’t the first racing participant to fall in love with racing through the agency of radio and television, and two legendary magazines. “I don’t know where my interest came from,” said Brett. “My father Stuart was a real estate agent and my mother Barbara a hairdresser but somehow I got hooked. Turf Monthly and Racetrack Magazine had been around for many years,” recalled Brett. “They featured written articles by some well respected racing writers and an endless supply of beautiful glossy photos of the top horses of the day. Most issues featured a horse of the month in vivid colour which I would quickly remove. I had photos of the top horses of the 1970’s and 80’s plastered all over my bedroom wall. I knew exactly what day of the month the new editions of both magazines were due, and I’d be waiting outside when the local newsagent opened his doors.”

Not surprisingly Brett’s initial ambition was to become a jockey. That dream spiked when a neighbour, former jockey Barry Smith, gifted the youngster with one of his old saddles. Obviously young Brett gratefully accepted, perhaps unaware that Barry Smith had been a much in demand rider on Sydney tracks in the 1950’s and had actually posted wins in two of Australia’s most famous races. In July of 1950, a young Barry Smith won the Doomben $10,000 on the Newcastle trained Rim Boy, and around fifteen months later rode outsider Channel Rise to a shock win in the 1951 AJC Derby. Sometime later the effects of a nasty fall at Hawkesbury hastened Barry’s retirement from the Sydney riding ranks.

A magical moment! Brett Dodson returns on Fire Brigade after his first winning ride at Tamworth.

Young Dodson’s fate was sealed from the moment he first sat on a thoroughbred. It was former jockey and successful trainer Terry Wicks who responded quickly when the 40kg youngster walked into his stables one day seeking information on the best way to go about becoming a jockey. “I’m not kidding when I tell you Terry had me riding a thoroughbred bare back within minutes,” recalled Brett. “It was afternoon walking exercise and I loved every minute of it. A few days later I was riding one and leading one, and within weeks he had me riding slow work. Fast forward to a Moree meeting a few months later and I had my first race ride for former champion jockey Leon Fox. The horse was called Outflank, I ran second and thought I was Mick Dittman.”

Brett tipped the scales at 43.5kgs on the occasion of that first race ride. Within twelve months he’d soared well into the 50kg bracket and was piling on the poundage at an alarming rate, but not before he’d posted 13 wins and around 30 placings. Totally besotted with the race riding art he switched to the picnics for two seasons which brought a few more winners and many thrills. He had a trainer’s licence by age 18 with a firm resolve to stay in the racing game.

Brett won his first race at Tamworth on Fire Brigade for his boss Terry Wicks and was understandably chuffed to train his first winner on his hometown track. That distinction belonged to Imposer’s Luck, a gelding he’d purchased cheaply from another stable. He went on to win another two country races with the son of Imposing and his training career was up and running, albeit on a low key but not devoid of enthusiasm. Brett later availed himself of the opportunity to work for outstanding horseman Tim Martin in stables at Tamworth and Scone, and on another occasion took on the role of private trainer to prominent owner Andrew Pratten at Inverell. When Brett suggested a move to Coffs Harbour after twelve months, Pratten was happy to relocate his sizeable team of horses to the much balmier climate. Andrew Pratten has sadly passed on, but Brett is still happily ensconced at the popular north coast venue.

According to Racing And Sports, the widely respected compiler of racing statistics Brett Dodson’s win tally now sits at 386 complemented by 738 placings. Hidden away on his list of winners are two at black type level, attained from very few opportunities. Words of Magic was nine years old and had won eleven races for other trainers by the time he entered the Dodson stable in 2006. Brett was more than chuffed to win two races with the veteran - an open sprint on the Gold Coast and the listed Falvelon Quality at Doomben ridden in both races by Matthew Bennett.

With rarely more than 15 horses in work Brett has posted a career tally of 386 wins - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Kreisler’s Jewel was a completely different horse to Words Of Magic. He was the worst kind of barrier rogue when he joined Brett’s team in 2001 and later required two wind operations before finding any semblance of form. Thirty nine runs later Kreisler’s Jewel boasted a record of eight wins and ten placings for $210,000, a tidy sum more than twenty years ago. He won two races at Eagle Farm including the listed Recognition Stakes in 2004 with Zac Purton doing the honours. He won the Tamworth Cup twice over contrasting distances, ridden in the first by Allan Robinson and the second by Matthew Paget. Brett received a huge thrill in September 2002 when Kreisler’s Jewel impressively won an 1800m race at Randwick defeating Red Trinket who won the Gr 3 Colin Stephen Quality just three weeks later. Glen Boss rode Kreisler’s Jewel and had nice things to say about the gelding after the race.

As Brett approaches his 52nd birthday, he’s still riding regular trackwork and thoroughly enjoying life at Coffs Harbour. His partner Sally Taylor, a talented trainer in her own right has only just moved her team of eighteen horses into stables recently vacated by Jim Jarvis. As Jim joins the ranks of retirees, Sally is just getting started in a role she loves. Not surprisingly she and Brett compare notes frequently. Between them this dedicated duo will continue to be regular visitors to the winner’s circle on northern rivers tracks, and will have a presence in town if a few more Petticoats come into their lives.

One of two Tamworth wins for Brett on Feasible early in his riding career.