$1500 IS DEFINITELY CAREY’S “LIMIT”

BRIAN Carey is hoping lightning strikes twice!

The Kembla Grange horse transport business operator – and now avid racehorse owner – loves paying $1500 to buy one.

A Victorian expat who was previously heavily involved with standardbreds, Carey paid that amount for his first thoroughbred last September when he bought former Victorian five-year-old gelding City Limits online with one bid.

City Limits ($8), trained at Kembla Grange by Diane Poidevin Laine, won his second race for his new owner at home yesterday when he came from last to take the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).

Ridden by French expat Pierre Boudvillain – who also was aboard when the gelding was successful at $31 in a Friday night Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury in February – City Limits has now earned his delighted owner just over $60,000 prizemoney.

And Carey is not stopping there.

“I’ve just bought a weanling filly by Yes Yes Yes (2019 The Everest winner) from an unraced Redoute’s Choice mare (Ravenna) for $1500 as well,” he said today.

“I took her to the Inglis sale in Sydney for her breeder in my float earlier this month, and brought her home as her new owner.

“She even walked back onto the float after the sale.

“The chap from Inglis who was going to lead her into the float for me was amazed, and remarked what a professional filly she is.”

Carey rides some work for Poidevin Laine (including City Limits in his slow gallops), and thought he would get his own thoroughbred as an interest, hence he bought City Limits, who had won one race (a 2400m Maiden Plate at Moe in September 2023 on a heavy track) when offered online through Inglis last September.

“City Limits ran fourth over 2400m at Kembla Grange on March 14 after winning at Canterbury, and I found a nice paddock to give him a little break afterwards, and kept looking after him,” he said.

“Pierre (Boudvillain) came down to ride him in an 800m trial at home last Monday on a good track, and then I rode him in two subsequent slow gallops during the week.

“I wasn’t confident City Limits could win first-up, but thought he could at least finish in the first four.

“He loves wet ground, and Pierre saved ground near the inside on straightening rather than go wide, and he really picked up over the last 200m.

“Whilst it was great to win my first race in town with him in February, hopefully we can win a couple more.”

Before relocating to Kembla Grange from Sydney, Carey rode work for champion trainer Chris Waller, who ironically was the trainer of $2.25 favorite Sting In The Tail, who was narrowly beaten by City Limits in the Canterbury race.

“Chris’ assistant Charlie Duckworth was at Canterbury that night, and asked me what I was doing there,” Carey said.

“I told him I had a horse in the same race.

“I have to give Chris great credit.

“Whilst working for him, I took particular notice of how he looks after his horses between runs, and I have tried to do the same with City Limits.”

Quite clearly, he has learnt well.

Story John Curtis, May 18, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos