LAWRENCE LANDS WINNERS AND SNAPPER

IT’S been some “catch” for Barry Lawrence over the last three days!

The Newcastle hobby trainer mixed winning races at Port Macquarie last Saturday and Tuncurry today with hooking snapper on a deep sea fishing expedition in between yesterday.

Lawrence scored at Port Macquarie with Take The Jackpot, and Love You Anyway at Tuncurry today – and they are the only two horses he currently has in racing trim.

Lawrence, who has his own roof restoration business but says he is scaling back to enjoy life more – and his horses of course – didn’t pay a lot of money either for his pair of winners.

Take The Jackpot cost him only $700 and has now earned nearly $100,000, whilst Love You Anyway was part of a $7000 two-horse package deal and broke through today at her 22nd start after 10 minor placings (including six seconds).

Whereas he bought now eight-year-old gelding Take The Jackpot online through Magic Millions in 2022, Love You Anyway was purchased also through Magic Millions the previous year in company with an All Too Hard gelding who is yet to race.

“Nathan Tinkler had Serene Lodge at the time, and all three horses of mine came from there,” Lawrence said en route home this afternoon from Tuncurry.

“I bought the All Too Hard fellow as a pony because he was only small. But he has developed really well, and I’m going to try him at the track. I’m in the process of naming him."

Lawrence races the horses with his wife Sheree and, whilst especially pleased to see Take The Jackpot post his fourth success in a Benchmark 50 Handicap (1010m) on a heavy Port Macquarie surface last Saturday, he was even more delighted to get a breakthrough with Love You Anyway ($9 but much shorter odds - $4.80 - on TAB.com.au) at Tuncurry.

Ridden by Mikayla Weir, the seven-year-old daughter of Your Song edged out fellow Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ $2.50 favorite Pomelo Chamomile (Andrew Gibbons) in the Super Maiden Plate (1000m), earning $22,000 to take her earnings also close to $100,000.

“Love You Anyway should have won a race before now,” Lawrence said.

“She has had a tendency to half buck at times, and has cost herself. But I never gave up, and thought she would be hard to beat today on her last start placing at Scone a week ago."

“Mikayla (Weir) rode the winner sir Boom A Lot that day, so I told her beforehand she owed me a win today, and she delivered."

Apprentice Shannen Llewellyn has been a big help to me with Love You Anyway, but is suspended and couldn’t ride her today.”

As for the fishing trip, Lawrence went in a mate’s boat off Broughton Island (near Port Stephens).

“We caught a heap of snapper,” he said. “It was a good day.”

A good three days in fact.

Whilst Lees missed out Pomelo Chamomile, he did land a winner in the following race.

Issy’s Star ($3.90), ridden by stable apprentice Will Stanley, won her second race when she defeated Triple Yes ($6) and The Warrior ($4.20) in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m). STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 24, 2026. PIC BY BRADLEY PHOTOS