Everybody Has A Story: Robbie Brankstone
9 February, 2017
Owners
Robbie Brankstone has played his hand in all aspects of greyhound racing for many years now.
The successful owner, breeder and trainer’s story starts eight years ago with a handy dog called Twisted Sheets.
Under Enzo Crudeli’s name, the dog who had cost Brankstone a reasonable $2000 ignited not only a passion for greyhound racing in Brankstone, but a strong relationship between trainer and owner.
“The Crudeli’s are like a second family,” Brankstone said on TABRadio’s, The Sports Daily.
“They’ve always been there for us whenever we need.”
The pinnacle of Brankstone’s breeding success came on Saturday night when his Crudeli trained chaser, Equanimity, dominating the 2017 Perth Cup with an all the way win.
“It’s still sinking in, it was all very surreal.
“You dream of this when you’re breading and you hope that one day you can take out the big one and for that to actually happen, it’s unbelievable.
“And to enjoy that with them as well on that night was special. It was very special for the whole family.
“Enzo had a bad fall a couple of weeks ago and was getting around on crutches, but after Saturday night I don’t think he’ll need crutches anymore.
“His feet are barely touching the ground.”
Like many greyhound owners it wasn’t always smooth sailing for Brankstone.
Not long after he began his ownership endeavours he lost $12,000 when he brought a dog from the East coast that didn’t deliver here in the West.
Lacking the large quantities of disposable cash that it takes to buy a champion chaser, Brankstone began his breeding and training conquests.
His first major breeding purchase was Historically, a half-sister to champion, Miata. With blood lines that Brankstone couldn’t fault, she was quickly sent to breed with Bombastic Shiraz.
In the meantime Brankstone committed himself to training.
“I decided to train because I had a sporting background so I thought I could run with the dogs and do everything like that
“I took a couple that weren’t going the greatest and had a go with them and I had a bit of success.”
Historically produced many talented progeny including the likes of She’s Historic who later went onto breed with Bartia Bale creating Perth Cup winner, Equanimity.
With a new business venture taking off, Brankstone discontinued training a year ago passing the leashes to old friend, Crudeli.
As for Equanimity his path has not been set in stone just yet.
“If he gets an invite or the right race is there that suits him we might consider it (going east).
“At the moment he’s only just had his tenth start, he’s still young and we’ve got no issues with him staying on his own turf.
“Hopefully we can pinch a few more races here, get a bit more race experience behind him and then go and take on the big boys.”
With a Perth Cup under his belt so early in his career, Equanimity will definitely be a fierce competitor. With all roads open for this dog, one thing can be said for certain, Brankstone and Crudeli will be enjoying the ride side by side.
Rebecca Shanks