Bren O'Brien

Bren O'Brien

Total 406 Posts
Bren is the founder and managing editor of The Straight.

Former club chairmen to front final Rosehill inquiry hearing

The Rosehill Select Committee parliamentary inquiry will hear evidence from two key players in the recent history of the Australian Turf Club/Australian Jockey Club when Matthew McGrath and Ron Finemore appear at the hearing.

Racing Victoria executive revamp takes shape as Lynch appointed COO

Racing Victoria boss Aaron Morrison has announced a suite of executive appointments, with Racing SA chief executive Vaughn Lynch moving to Melbourne to fill the role of chief operating officer.

As you were at Brisbane Racing Club as Bell confirms exit plans

The three directors of Brisbane Racing Club up for board election have been returned to their roles as long-term chairman Neville Bell confirmed his plan to exit in 2025.

Is The Everest really a Group 1? The Pattern palaver which has Australia none the wiser

The complex process surrounding upgrades of races as part of the Pattern has cast doubt over whether The Everest will be run with full Group 1 status this Saturday. Bren O’Brien examines the issues at play both locally and internationally.

‘You must go through the front door’ – Gai takes aim at new Pattern process

Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse has described the surge of upgrades to black-type races in Australia under a new Pattern process as “pernicious inflation at its worst”.

Run The Numbers – History being Written again?

At 22, Written Tycoon may be in the twilight of his breeding career, but the Yulong resident finds himself back at the top of the Australian sires' table with eerily similar numbers to what he achieved at the same point of his sires’ championship 2020/21 season.

A Pattern of disorder – Stakeholder revolt forces a pause on race upgrades

The new Racing Australia-led process to reform The Pattern is in disarray just three days after it was announced, with state-based racing authorities, led by Victoria, pausing plans to upgrade races after stakeholder unrest.
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