TREACY ACHIEVES HIS GOAL WITH HOME TRACK BREAKTHROUGH

IT wasn’t quite Darren Treacy’s “grand final”, but still he achieved a goal he has long been craving.

The former professional rugby league footballer, who as a second-row forward, was a member of the St George-Illawarra side which narrowly lost the 1999 NRL grand final to Melbourne (20-18) in a dramatic contest after leading 14-0 at the break, is now a winner in his own right as a racehorse trainer.

Treacy’s breakthrough came on his home track at Broadmeadow today when $31 joint rank outsider Dance Dance Dance at his seventh start overcame an outside draw to land the Provincial Maiden Plate (1400m).

Ridden by Kacie Adams, the Highland Reel three-year-old surged down the outside to overhaul Hawkesbury pair, Mitch and Desiree Kearney’s Share The Joy ($8.50) and Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard’s Prefer Diamonds ($11).

Treacy made his NRL debut for the Newcastle Knights against South Sydney in the opening round of the 1994 competition, and the following year played in the Knights’ final series before being eliminated by Manly in the preliminary final.

When his footy career was over he became a publican, being “mine host” at hotels at Morpeth and West Wallsend, but has long held an interest in thoroughbreds by part-owning a number.

After racing horses, he took the plunge in the latter half of 2023 by securing his licence after learning the ropes with Kris Lees and the late Sam Kavanagh.

Fittingly, today’s winning rider Adams was also aboard his maiden starter Never Yield at Muswellbrook on November 5, 2023.

Forty-four runners later and, with three placings to his name, Treacy finally cracked it with Dance Dance Dance.

“It’s been a long haul and it’s terrific to get my first winner,” he said this evening.

“I’m pleased for the horse, but more pleased for Kacie.

“She has been with me right from the start.

“Kacie’s father Kevin Adams bred this horse, and both he and Kacie were kind enough to bring some members of my family from Mackay in Queensland in to share in the ownership.

“I’ve owned horses and won races before, but a lot of people don’t realise how much goes in to training horses and getting them to the races.”

Whilst it has taken time to get his maiden success out of the way, Treacy never lost hope.

“I started off with other people’s issues (older horses),” he said.

“Now I’ve got some nice three-year-olds such as Dance Dance Dance with whom we kicked off their careers.”

Treacy admitted he nearly didn’t start the gelding after he drew the outside barrier.

“I was unsure whether to go ahead, especially with the rail out 11m,” he said.

“But I woke up yesterday morning and Kacie and I both agreed to chance our arm.”

Treacy trialled Dance Dance Dance when second in a 1000m heat at home last Tuesday, and backed him up seven days later.

“I took winkers off and put blinkers on in the trial to sharpen him up,” he said.

“He trialled well, and I kept the blinkers on.”

Treacy was also pleased for another important member of his team.

“Turgey, who is from Turkey, is a RacingNSW sponsored trackwork rider, and helps out each morning,” he said.

“I was thrilled also for him to see the horse win, and we both had a little celebration afterwards.”

. A betting drift did not deter Flying Argyle (Alysha Collett) from winning the Maiden Plate (1250m) for legendary Newcastle trainer Paul Perry.

Heavy support for debutante Seastraand, who started $2.20 favorite, resulted in Perry’s three-year-old easing to run as a $2.80 second favorite.

The pair had a great tussle in the straight with the Flying Artie gelding edging away from Seastraand to put an end to four consecutive second placings.

Story John Curtis, February 19, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos