CHARLEVILLE trainer Les Baker has celebrated a breakthrough victory in The Betoota Advocate Betoota Cup (1600m).
The well-travelled Baker had previously gone close at Betoota but he finally cracked it on Saturday, in perfect conditions in the Channel Country, with Deciduous saluting the judges in the $18,000 feature race on the opening weekend of the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival.
Ridden by apprentice jockey Angel Brennan, who’d made a special trip all the way from Tamworth, Deciduous proved too strong for stablemate Turnstar.
In a field of six, last year’s winner Equal Balance, trained by Kym Healy in South Australia and ridden by the experienced Robbie Faehr, finished last.
Speaking to 4RR-FM straight after the official presentation, Baker was overjoyed at conquering Betoota. “Run second a lot of times but yeah today, turned the tables and got one to take home with us,” Baker said whilst heaping praise on those people behind him including strapper Evan Brassington.
The Simpson Desert Racing Carnival moves to Birdsville this week with races on both Friday and Saturday in the iconic Outback town.
In the lead-up to Birdsville, Windorah will host its traditional yabby races on Wednesday night, with the auction starting at 6pm.
We’ll have more on the Betoota races in Costo’s LIVE drive show today after 3pm.
PHOTO: Deciduous, ridden by apprentice jockey Angel Brennan, takes out Saturday’s The Betoota Advocate Betoota Cup (1600m).
PHOTO THANKS TO ROXY WESTON, RLR PHOTOGRAPHY.
POSTED: Monday, August 31, 2026