Trainer Brian Gentle makes Sunshine State return

By Jordan Gerrans

Former Gold Coast trainer Brian Gentle feels just down the road at Beaudesert is the perfect place to relaunch his career after time spent away from the game.

Gentle has been well-travelled during his time in racing, working across all three of the eastern seaboard states of Australia.

He previously trained his team out of Aquis Park on the Gold Coast – where he produced many city winners and had black-type runners – as well as also working out of Bendigo in Victoria and around Sydney.

Having been back in the Sunshine State since the latter months of 2023, Gentle collected his first winner back at Beaudesert on the last Saturday of the year.

It was his first winner since June of 2019.

The Gentle stable did not start a runner in a race between July of 2019 and late October of last year.

Gelding Destiny's Republic got the cash in Class 4 Handicap grade over 1200 metres to hand Gentle the comeback triumph.

Like the trainer himself, there were times six-year-old Destiny's Republic looked like his racing days were numbered.

“It is funny because we actually had him on the retired list that horse, he had not been retired but the trainers who had him in South Australia that had him thought that he likely needed to be finished up,” Gentle said.

“I had a look at him and thought the same.

“But, a month or so later I had a look at him and thought that he might be right to race on.

“We chucked him on the float, brought him up and the rest was history.”

Gentle trained out of the Gold Coast during the late 2000s.

The Reward For Effort gelding had two runs at Ipswich through November and December before finding a suitable race at Beaudesert.

“We knew he was going well enough to win as it was not an overly strong race,” Gentle said.

“He got the job done, which is the main thing.”

As well as training in several locations himself, Gentle has also spent time working in the stables of champion Sydney trainers John O’Shea and Gai Waterhouse as well.

“I have worked for a lot of good stables over the years,” he said.

After last putting a saddle on a galloper on race day in the middle of 2019, Gentle thought he was unlikely to ever train again.

He drove thoroughbreds across the country for Scone Equine Transport during his time away from training.

He now has a handful in work as well as an unraced baby colt - Gettin'hotinhere – who is on the way up from Victoria.

The stable also has seven yearlings coming through the ranks as well.

“I sort of decided I would give it away forever and then a mate of mine had a bunch of horses that needed training,” he said.

“I had a bit to do with them previously when I was in Sydney and Victoria. I was talked into it and I thought I would give it a crack.”

Gentle is training out of Beaudesert.

“We still go into Beaudesert track in the morning,” he said.

“There is nothing like going to the track for the horses as you don’t want the horses spending too much time on the farm.”

The stable had maiden galloper Enuff Stop It face the starter in the city on Wednesday afternoon.

“I think she will win a race at some stage, she has the ability,” he said.