Brendon Newport chasing Barcaldine winners

By Glenn Davis 

Trainer and jockey Brendon Newport thought his world had caved in after a fire destroyed his mobile home last month.

Newport and his partner Sarah Robbins, who have five children, were staying with family friends, Stuart and Cheryl Rogers at Roma, when fire broke out in their uninsured vehicle.

Both Newport and Robbins were fortunate no one was hurt in the blaze, but the family lost most of their possessions including valuable riding gear.

But, thanks to support of a fundraiser conducted by the Queensland Racing Industry Support Program, more than $10,000 was donated to help the couple and their children whose ages range from eight months to eight years. 

“We haven’t had much luck lately,” the New Zealand-born Newport said.

“Just before the fire, Sarah’s car broke down before we left to go to Alice Springs and then a couple of weeks ago, I was 10 kilometres from home when my Ford Ranger blew a piston coming back from Cunnamulla.

“Thankfully (trainer) Rodney Hay let us borrow one of his cars, which was nice of him.”

Newport will be looking for his first winner since his motorhome was destroyed when he rides at Barcaldine on Tuesday.

Winton trainer Ray Hermann has booked him for Oligarchy (Class 3 Plate), Highground (Benchmark 55), Wolf Point (Benchmark 50) and Mishani Outlaw in the Maiden Handicap.

“I’ve only ridden Wolf Point so I don’t know much about the others,” Newport said.

“But, on Wolf Point’s last run, he should be hard to beat.”

Wolf Point was having his fourth run this campaign when third in a 1000 metre Benchmark 55 at Longreach on May 11.

Newport completed his apprenticeship with Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp and after several years riding as a senior he took out a dual trainer and jockey license 18 months ago.

Although he has ridden predominantly on provincial and country circuits, Newport has a city winner on his resume.

It came aboard the Grant Arnold-trained And Over Again at a Toowoomba metropolitan meeting in 2021.

The 32-year-old has five horses in work and most are owned by Robbins’ mother Anne.

As a rider, Newport has a strike-rate around nine percent this season with 18 wins from 207 rides.