Kaden Elliott and Maryann White with Brewery Lane after their win. Photo – Northam Harness Racing Club
Start 100 is said to be a lucky one, and that was no exception for Brewery Lane who not only got the win on Friday night at Northam, but took out the feature of the night, the Eric Elliott Memorial for local trainer Maryann White, and even more fitting that his great grandson Kaden Elliot was in the cart.
With the Elliott name well known in the WA harness racing scene, the win was nothing short of special for all involved, with White confirming there’s quite a strong Elliott presence in the horse himself.
“He was apparently a painful horse, used to hang bad and hit a knee quite bad,
“He was offered to Garry Elliot by Georgie (Michael George), Garry was well known for sorting out issues,
“He had time out in the paddock and a lot of work by Garry, he finally got him going, I used to drive him in trackwork for him.” White said.
Maryann was offered ‘Johnny’ aka Brewery Lane when Garry was ill, with the horse becoming too strong for him at the time, White jumped at the chance, with her family all involved with the now nine-year-old.
“He’s always had a good turn of foot.”
Eric Elliott, a stalwart in the industry, was originally a jockey before making the switch in codes, but not before he took out the 1953 Geraldton Gold Cup on board Dark Magic.
No stranger to success, he trained Billy Conda and Billy Two Hats, both consistent metropolitan horses, with his legacy continuing on in his family, with son Garry Elliott a successful country circuit trainer before sadly passing away in 2022, and now grandson Kaden now trying his hand at driving. Thomas Elliott, also a son of Eric prepared the winner of race six on the night, the aptly named Billy Two Hats pace.
“It was great, Kaden the great-grandson, Garry’s ex horse, and my dad and Eric were great mates too, so it was really nice.” White said
After finding themselves four back on the pegs, Elliot worked his way off the rail with 650m to go, weaving their way through runners before eventually going wide on the final bend, coming home the better to win by 1.8m in 2:00:8, a fairy tale ending in the feature.
“And to win one for Maryann who helps me so much made it that bit more special.” Elliott said.
Ashleigh Paikos