“A trainer usually gets more bad news than good news, and most of the bad is beyond his or her control. You can’t be too hard on yourself and you’ve got to have a laugh. It’s easy to handle winners and success. Dealing with the bad news quickly, allows you to get on with the good things. A happy stable is a good stable.”
The above is a quote from Mitchell Beer in a podcast recorded exactly two years ago, six months after his relocation from Victoria to Albury. Aspiring young trainers would do well to heed his words.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday of last week Mitchell’s creed was put to the test. On Friday at Goulburn he was delighted to provide stable apprentice Fiona Sandkhul with her very first winner at just her fifth attempt. The twenty one year old showed a natural understanding of pace when she led throughout to win a 1300m BM 58 on the long striding grey mare Snowbella.
A magical day for apprentice Fiona Sandkhul as she wins her first race on Snowbella for Mitchell Beer at Goulburn - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Fiona is highly regarded in Victorian show circles and has been successful at the highest level in several disciplines - sometimes riding retired racehorses. Her burgeoning affection for thoroughbreds led to a part time role as a trackwork rider for Hayes and Hayes at Euroa. It wasn’t long before Fiona was seeking an apprenticeship, and Mitchell Beer was happy to sign her up. “She’s totally dedicated and often gets to the stables before me,” said Mitch. “Lessons learned in the show ring have given her natural poise and balance. I’m expecting her to make her mark as a jockey.”
The trainer still hadn’t come down off cloud nine when he arrived at Randwick on Saturday with his promising three year old filly Sunrise Ruby. Little did he know he was about to be propelled into another stratosphere. The daughter of Casino Prince had been on the radar of several keen judges of late, and her city debut was much anticipated.
It was reported in one media outlet that Mitchell had declared the filly potentially the best horse he’s trained.
For one horrible moment at the 800m in Saturday’s TAB Highway, the ever optimistic trainer was thinking Sunrise Ruby would have to wait for another day to strut her stuff. For a few strides she was last of the eleven runners and hadn’t improved much by the turn where she was held up between horses. When Glen Boss secured a gap at the 200m it was time for the leggy filly to prove she was worthy of the hype, and she didn’t disappoint. Although the Kosciuszko is still many weeks away, Mitchell is hoping the impressive win has at least brought her to the attention of potential slot holders.
Sunrise Ruby makes it 4 wins from 5 starts in Saturday's TAB Highway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Now comes the part where two massive highs were thrust into perspective by a disastrous Sunday for the Beer stable. The trainer carted three horses 377km from Albury to the Forbes Cup meeting - well over 4 hours in travelling time. Mitchell takes up the story.
“There’s nothing like this racing game to bring you back to Earth with a thud,” he said. “After two exciting days we had an absolute shocker at Forbes. Despite the best efforts of my stable jockey Jordan Mallyon, my trio all finished out of the placings and we then had to face another four and a bit hours on the homeward run. I might add, two of those three horses have been officially retired.”
“The rissole and onion gravy sangas being served up at the Forbes canteen are nothing short of outstanding. An absolute credit to the Club.” This was the wording of a tweet posted by Mitchell a short time after his third runner had failed to flatter - another example of his philosophical outlook on the disappointments racing can bring. He’s a regular contributor to social media platforms and has garnered a strong fan base in recent years. His wicked sense of humour shows through in every post. “As a trainer I want my owners large and small to really enjoy the racing experience,” said Mitch. “I believe that type of owner can be found among social media subscribers.”
Mitchell at an Inglis sale with a Pride Of Dubai filly - sadly the filly didn't make it to the races.
The formation of Sunrise Ruby’s large ownership group wasn’t generated by social media. It was put together among friends by breeder Sue Zeitz, a long-time supporter of the Mitchell Beer stable. “Sue is a Melbourne lawyer who is totally dedicated to her small but select band of broodmares,” said Mitch. “Her horses are accommodated at Michael Becker’s beautifully appointed Stockwell Thoroughbreds headquarters at Digger’s Rest - established by Ken Cox in 1958 and home to many top stallions including the great Showdown. The property later became the Victorian base for the Emirates Park breeding arm.
“Sue’s passion for her horses knows no bounds. Among her broodmares at Stockwell are several older matrons who’ve been retired but will see out their days in luxury. She bred Sunrise Ruby by mating her mare Scarletta with the rapidly emerging stallion Casino Prince. The resultant filly foal had a major early setback when she contracted a chronic eye infection which had the vets worried for quite some time. For a few tense days it was thought she may lose the eye, but finally massive doses of antibiotics got on top of the problem. For many weeks she wore an eye patch and quickly got the nickname “Pirate” around the farm.
Scarletta was only moderately performed with one win in a seven start career for $21,000. Most of that came from a maiden win at Warrnambool for Mornington trainer Jason Warren. Scarletta’s credentials look a little more appealing when you see she’s out of the Danehill mare Danavia, but they take a quantum leap when you go back one more generation to see that her grand dam was none other than stud book gem Scandinavia. The celebrated daughter of Snippets won a Gr 2 QTC Cup and was placed in four Gr 1 races.
Her respectable race record has been eclipsed by her achievements in the breeding barn. Scandinavia, who died just over a year ago produced thirteen foals of which ten got to the races. Eight of them won, but it was one of her unraced daughters who brought enormous fame to the family. Helsinge (Desert Sun) became the dam of the unbeaten icon Black Caviar, and multiple Gr 1 winner All Too Hard. Good horses are apt to keep turning up from this prepotent family.
Sunrise Ruby was a late two year old when she made a winning debut against older horses at Albury in June of last year. Mindful of her immaturity Mitchell didn’t produce her again for three months, but was very disappointed when she finished a six lengths fourth in a Class 1 on her home track. “Obviously something was amiss and it didn’t take long to find out,’ said the trainer. “Thankfully there were no bone chips but there was evidence of severe jarring in both front fetlock joints. The fast growing filly was simply not handling the stress and was begging for the paddock.
Sunrise Ruby is a big filly who took some time to get over the growing pains. It's full steam ahead from now on - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
“We put her in a 25 hectare paddock with several mates at nearby Kooringal Stud and forgot about her for six months,” said Mitchell. “You worry about them sustaining an injury in the company of other horses, but I believe it’s the best thing for a lengthy spell. I couldn’t believe my eyes when she came back into the stable. That spell was the making of her.”
Nine months after her shock defeat at Albury, Sunrise Ruby stepped out in a Wagga barrier trial in which she finished third given a very soft run by Richard Bensley. Then came the two Albury wins that propelled her into Saturday’s TAB Highway. “Funny thing, all of her Riverina runs had been on rain affected tracks, and I was hoping she wasn’t just a mud runner. Thankfully she was even better on top of the ground at Randwick.”
Mitchell made a brave call when he elected to relocate from Mornington to Albury two and a half years ago. The increasing presence of the major stables at Victorian provincial and country meetings was a source of concern to him as he endeavoured to establish his business. “An Albury base gave me the choice of a wide range of country meetings while it’s a fairly easy run to Sydney or Melbourne if I found myself with a city class horse. The Albury Racing Club Committee welcomed us with open arms and I haven’t had a single regret about the move.”
Life has moved at a rapid rate for the son of former respected Victorian jockey Les Beer. He was a frequent visitor to race meetings when his father was riding, and learned the unique language of racing at a very early age. He’s the first to admit he didn’t know how to put a head collar on a horse when he started his new job at the Flemington stables of leviathan owner Lloyd Williams.
He stayed four years in the job and would have stayed longer had Williams not moved his entire operation to his new Macedon Lodge training property. Mitchell was able to remain at Flemington when offered a job by the late Russell Cameron who, over the next four years became a trusted friend and valued mentor. Then came a stint as assistant trainer to Jason Warren on the Mornington Peninsula, by which time thoughts of a solo training career were emerging.
He moved a step closer to that goal when he accepted an offer to join Mornington veteran Max Hinton in an official partnership. The new combination got away to a flying start when Jacqui’s Joy won first up at Kilmore and then won two on the trot at Caulfield. Just a few weeks later the duo combined to win the Gr 3 Typhoon Tracy with Almighty Girl at a Moonee Valley night meeting. In September 2017 the partnership was amicably terminated as Max reverted to an independent role, while Mitchell prepared for a life changing move to Albury.
Mitchell with his talented sister Ashlee who's been a key figure in his training career.
In a touching show of confidence, every one of his Victorian clients agreed to let him move their horses to the border city. He arrived with a team of twenty. Today he has forty five horses accommodated in two stable blocks and a staff of fifteen. Mitchell has steadily forged a reputation as a very professional hands-on trainer. He enjoyed his best season ever in 2020/2021 with 35 winners and 71 placings on NSW tracks.
He sings the praises of the special horses who’ve helped to put him on his feet as a commercial horse trainer. He loved Princess Cordelia with whom he won four races including TAB Highways at Rosehill and Randwick. The daughter of Bel Esprit will visit Cosmic Force this coming spring.
Schnitzel gelding Jawwaal is back in work following a suspensory ligament issue which sidelined him for almost a year. Last preparation he was placed at Flemington following an eleven lengths win in a BM 66 at Albury.
Mitchell won four races with Sky Call who also registered several placings on Victorian tracks. Although unplaced she was only two lengths from the winner in last year’s Country Championship final at Randwick. Mitch confirms Sky Call has been booked to Russian Camelot this spring. Swagger is proving to be a bargain buy for the Beer stable. Sourced out of NZ for just $16,000 the six year old has already won races at Albury and Wagga and recently won a TAB Highway at Randwick.
Swagger, a $16,000 purchase from NZ scores a gutsy win for the Beer stable in a recent TAB Highway. More Sundays was the runner up - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Hanger is another NZ acquisition for the stable who has more than paid his way in Australia. From just six runs to date the O’Reilly gelding has won the Echuca Cup and finished a close second to Royal Celebration in a BM 88 at Rosehill.
Power Me Up showed little in three runs for the Snowden stable before finding his way to Beer’s Albury base. The son of Pins is doing a sterling job on the country circuit with five wins including the recent Narrandera Cup.
Mitchell went very close to fulfilling an important job for Bjorn Baker last spring. He got Redouble to train straight from a spell and was asked to set him for a first up tilt at the Kosciuszko. He went into the $1.3 million dollar race at Randwick off two barrier trials without having raced for nine weeks. Redouble looked the winner when he darted along the fence to grab the lead close to home. He was unfortunate to run into the massively talented It’s Me who produced an astonishing burst to get up in the last few strides.
There are very good vibes in the Beer stable as a brand new season begins. Some tension will emerge in the weeks ahead as Sunrise Ruby contests another two lead up races before the Kosciuszko on October 16th. Every member of the team will be hoping the mare does enough to attract the attention of at least one of the fourteen lucky sweepstakes winners whose names will be drawn on September 9th. Mitchell went agonisingly close to a Kosciuszko win last year and dreams of another crack at the unique race with a rapidly improving mare. Whatever happens you can guarantee this trainer will cop it on the chin.
We’ve already used one quote from a 2019 podcast with Mitchell Beer. We close with a second one. “Every morning I come to the stables to work with people I consider mates. I’m humbled by what I’ve achieved thus far and if this is all it is for me then I’m more than satisfied. I get a great buzz out of training winners and working with great people. I couldn’t imagine myself in any other place than where I am right now.”
Nothing has changed since Mitchell Beer uttered those words two years ago.
(Banner image - Lightly raced Sunrise Ruby stretches out for Glen Boss to win the TAB Highway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)