Old favourite Pee Dee delivers special win for Farley

By Jordan Gerrans

Horsewoman Jennifer Farley purchased veteran gelding Pee Dee with the hope of taking him on a North Queensland road trip and while that adventure never came to fruition, the pair are still enjoying their racing journey together.

The Toowoomba-based Farley celebrated her first winner since the 2018-19 season when Pee Dee landed a stylish victory at Roma on Saturday afternoon.

Pee Dee is nine years of age, but he is still enjoying his racing across the Sunshine State.

It was the son of Outreach’s third start for the Farley stable, which is based at Clifford Park.

In the Ratings Band 0 - 50 Handicap over 1000 metres, Pee Dee scored by more than five lengths with up-and-coming apprentice Reece O'Connell in the saddle.

“It was very exciting,” Farley said.

“He ran a good race at Esk for me, but it was just a bit short for him. I took him to Nanango and the track just didn’t suit him there.

“I just thought we'll back him up, I just swum him for the week to keep him off his old joints.

“When the young fellow Reece came back in, I asked him if the horse liked the sand. Reece said that he didn’t like the sand, he loved it. So, it was good.

“He rode it exactly the way I asked him to, so it was a good day.”

O'Connell, who is indentured to the Geran camp at Toowoomba, rode Pee Dee for Farley at Esk in the middle of July, which was the sprinter’s first start for the stable.

The talented O'Connell has been in good form of late, collecting a Dalby winning double before heading to Roma on Saturday.

“Reece was genuinely pleased that the horse won for me,” Farley said.

“He rode him at Esk for me and he really liked the horse there.

“So, he was pleased to ride him again, he did everything right, so it was good. And, the horse has pulled up good, so it's all good.”

The 67-year-old Farley has not been as prominent in the training ranks in recent years, with only single-figure numbers of starters in the last five seasons.

Despite that, she has been working as hard as ever within the industry, having been a trusted offsider to experienced Darling Downs mentor John Thomas for the last eight years.

The horsewoman works for Thomas while also juggling a full-time job away from racing and initially decided to dip her toes back into training with long service leave on the horizon from her day job.

That is why she purchased Pee Dee in late 2025, when the veteran galloper was being prepared by Jan Bowen at the time.

She was hoping to take the gelding to tracks such as Mount Garnet and Mareeba in North Queensland, but when the northern adventure had to be postponed, she focused her attention on racing around the southern parts of the state.

“I had planned to travel north with him, because of that, I had already organised for him to end up with my good friend Rebecca Henry,” Farley said.

“She is at Mount Garnet and works with off the trackers.

“I have sent a lot of horses to her; she does a great job in rehoming them. He will still eventually go there, hopefully after another win.

“I was on the lookout and I found this old fella. I had a bit of luck with old horses before. I had a good old horse in Melbourne that I won a couple of races with.

“Pee Dee was sound, which is a big thing, and that's why I bought him.”

Farley initially trained in Victoria before relocating to Queensland to help further her daughter Rebecca’s riding career.

Rebecca retired from the saddle due to injury in late 2018.

Farley owns a majority share in Pee Dee and is hoping the veteran can provide her with another win or two.

“I’m also very lucky to have great friends in the horse with me, country racing, it’s all about friends and having fun doing it,” she said.

“I am so lucky I have such a lovely natured horse, he is a joy to do anything with and at the races he is a true gentleman.

“His previous owners loved him. Pat Farrell trained and owned him and when he died, Pee Dee and his other horses went through the sale.

“I spoke to Pat’s daughter before I bought him, Tammy, and she told me how everyone connected to him loved him, so after he won, I messaged her to let her know, she was over the moon.

“I am realistic where I can go with a horse like him and seeing as he likes the sand, we may look at a race at Bundaberg in the future.

“I bought him as a country horse, that's where I want to race and I like those country meetings.”

When based in Victoria, Farley enjoyed success at tracks such as Wangaratta, Wodonga, Balranald and Echuca, with a gelding named Portland delivering her five winners over the years.