Brian Gentle hopes to end frustrating run

By Glenn Davis

Journeyman Brian Gentle is hoping to end a long absence from the winner’s stall when he heads to Eagle Farm on Wednesday with one starter.

The 55-year-old Gentle last saddled a winner when Miss Linny broke her maiden status at Ipswich in early August of last year.

It’s been a frustrating period for Gentle who has had eight placegetters from his subsequent 36 starters.

“I’ve been around the mark a few times, but it has been a frustrating time,” Gentle said.

Gentle hopes to end his run of outs with debutant Enterprise Giselle in the QTIS Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate over 1200 metres.

A daughter of Lean Mean Machine, Enterprise Giselle started off with Gold Coast trainer Paul Shailer before Beaudesert owner and breeder Dr Brian Purtle moved the filly to Gentle’s Beaudesert barn.

“A friend of mine recommended me to Brian and I’ve got six horses for him now,” Gentle said.

Enterprise Giselle goes into her debut with two barrier trials under her belt and Gentle is confident of a strong performance.

“She’s had two good trials and her latest one was very good,” Gentle said.

“The trials were only over 1000 metres which were way too short for her.

“She’ll be much better over 1200 metres and even 1400 metres later on.”

Gentle has no specific plans with Enterprise Giselle but hinted the Queensland Racing Carnival in the winter could be on her agenda if her form warrants it.

“I told Brian that it would be good to start her off early this campaign as he’s a breeder and to win in town makes her a valuable stud proposition,” Gentle said.

“There’s no plans with her yet, but I think she’ll be competitive on Wednesday and if she goes okay, we’ve got the winter to look at.”

Gentle has been training for more than 25 years and has worked in three states.

He kicked off working for Gerald Ryan when the Sydney trainer was based at the Gold Coast.

He later became a foreman for Sydney trainer John O’Shea for three years in 2005 before eventually returning to Gold Coast to train for another five years.

As well as being a pre-trainer for the late Guy Walter and Bjorn Baker, Gentle also tried his luck training at Bendigo in Victoria.

He gave away training for several years to drive trucks for a living at Scone in the NSW Hunter Valley before he began to get the itch to train again and returned to Queensland.

Gentle made the move to Beaudesert more than two years ago where he now has a dozen horses in work.