East closes out year with 5 winners in four days

Rebecca East has capped off the period between Christmas and New Year with a stunning burst of form, preparing five winners in just four days. The run began with a double at Melton on December 27 and concluded on Tuesday night at Mount Gambier, where she produced a brilliant training treble.

Her Melton double—courtesy of Operative Line and Eastbro Chrissy—marked the first time East had prepared two winners on the same night at Victoria’s metropolitan headquarters.

Just three days later, she returned to her favourite track, Mount Gambier, and dominated the program with Grinning Beach Boy, She Will Wanton, and Famous Label, all saluting. The venue sits roughly 90 kilometres from her Heywood base, and East has long considered it her happiest hunting ground.

East wrapped up 2025 with 42 winners, with 24 of those victories coming in South Australia. Her season highlights included the Horsham Cup with Operative Line and the Mount Gambier Gold Cup with Eastbro Chrissy.

Reflecting on Operative Line’s rise, East admitted she never expected the gelding to reach open-class company.

“If you’d told me when we first got him that he’d make free-for-all grade, I wouldn’t have believed you,” she said.

She also praised Eastbro Chrissy’s resurgence.

“She’s always had ability, but she’s had feet issues. We changed her shoeing and added pads to stop the jarring, and she’s racing much better now.”

Tuesday’s treble at Mount Gambier also carried extra meaning, with driver Michael Bellman bringing up his 100th winner for the season aboard one of her runners.

East began her training career in October 2011 and prepared her first winner at Mount Gambier in March 2012 with Vindaloo Delli. Since then, she has added another 272 winners to her tally.

With 20 horses currently in work and her team firing on all cylinders, East is eager to launch into the new season starting tomorrow.

by Gary Newton for Harnesslink