Passion still strong for owners of Celestial Topaz

Brothers Steven and Michael Byrne have been involved in harness racing for more than 50 years, and their passion is as strong as ever.

The Brynes have started 2025 in winning style bringing up a two-state treble on the weekend with horses they bred and own.

On Friday, Celestial Zodiac was victorious at Melton in Victoria, then on Saturday, his half-brother Celestial Topaz scored the narrowest of wins at Globe Derby Park.

Veteran Celestial Daybreak brought up the treble at Swan Hill on Sunday

Trained by Kaycee Carey and driven by Ryan Hryhorec, Celestial Topaz ($1.75 fav) had just a short half head to spare from the fast finishing Just Mocha ($4) with Alive And Free ($5.50), 1-1/2 metres away third.

The eight-year-old’s supporters were on good terms when he found the front from gate two and Hryhorec rated him perfectly, slowly increasing the tempo.

Just Mocha, well driven by Wayne Hill to find the spot behind the leader waited until the sprint lane before launching a strong charge but just failed.

Michael Byrne said the finish had been a bit closer than he would have liked.

“The adrenaline was pumping over the final stages,” Byrne said.

“But he lasted, and Ryan (Hryhorec) made the point post-race, that he believed Topaz was better suited coming from back in the field.

“He felt the horse was waiting for the others over the final stages.

“It has been a great start for us in 2025 with Celestial Zodiac winning at Melton on Friday.

“We gave him to Tori Hutchins to train in November and he has now won two races since going to Victoria.

“Topaz went to Kaycee at the end of October, and she has been able to win three races with him.”

Byrne said the brothers had first become owners in harness racing but branched out into breeding their own as their love of the sport blossomed.

“We haven’t bred a champion, but we are proud to say our horses have generally more than paid for themselves.”

Steven Byrne said Celestial Diamond, the dam of Celestial Topaz and Celestial Zodiac, had another promising youngster Celestial Nebulae, already a winner, on the track, while the mare had a colt and a filly, both by Poster Boy, coming through.

“She has been sent to Raging Bull this season, so we have more runners coming through.”

Perhaps the most well known of the Byrne’s team is veteran Celestial Daybreak, now a 13-year-old, which has won 58 races and is also with Tori Hutchins in Victoria. He has recorded wins at Charlton and Swan Hill for the trainer.

Globe Derby Park’s meeting saw trainer Luke O’Neill bring up a treble on the nine-race program.

O’Neill won with trotter Piesridingshotgun then pacers, rejuvenated Budding Caesar and Hezacrocwatcher.

Piesridingshotgun ($7), driven by Kevin Weidenbach, led throughout in the Pastor Stephen @ Llowalong Farms Trotters Mobile (2230m) to win by 3-1/2 metres from Hurricane Ed ($3 fav) with Spotlight ($8), 1-1/2 metres away third.

O’Neill laughed about the eight-year-old’s win.

“I have rung his owner six or seven times and said I think he would be going home and each time I do, he steps up and wins,” O’Neill said.

“Tonight was another example.

“He has been a really good trotter and tonight was his 23rd win. Not a star, but very consistent and he has picked up more than $80,000 in stakes.”

Budding Caesar ($5.50), now an 11-year-old, made it two wins in a week, leading throughout to hold off Offyarocka Crocker ($2.60 fav) by 4-1/2 metres with Whata Optimist ($6), three metres away third.

Tasmania’s Mark Yole drove him to victory during the Australian Drivers Championship a week earlier, then on Saturday, Wayne Hill found the front from gate seven to win again.

Budding Caesar has now won three of his last four starts for O’Neill, with his initial win giving concession driver Ella Brechin her first driving win.

O’Neill said he believed the gelding could continue his winning form.

“He was a very good younger horse, but I think might have got stuck in a rut,” O’Neill said.

“The change of scenery coming to me and going into my training routine has given him a new lease on life.”

Wayne Hill brought up a driving treble when he partnered Hezacrocwatcher ($7) which came with a strong run to win the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (1800m), a victory which meant so much to O’Neill and the ownership group.

The eight-year-old won by a metre from Sugarpova ($1.80 fav) with Letsgo Big Girl ($2.60), 2-1/2 metres away third.

“When he was with Anthony Butt in Victoria he broke both pasterns in his back legs and we were told he would never race again,” O’Neill said.

“It is a credit to the veterinary staff, and my own team, that we are able to get him back racing.

“He has ice packs, heat packs and plenty of daily attention to enable him to race, he loves competing.

“He has such a big heart. He will never be as good as he was but seeing him win was pretty emotional.”

Hill’s first winner was for co-trainers Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson who look to have a nice three-year-old in Captain Fearless, all all-the-way winner of the Ladbrokes Blackbook Pace (1800m).

Captain Fearless ($2.60 fav) showed early speed from gate three to find the front, and despite being challenged strongly throughout, drew clear to win by 2-1/2 metres from Mariahs Shadow ($8) with Childers Road ($10), a similar margin away third.

Trainer Jill Neilson said the three-year-old was still a colt and could be a handful in the stable and race day stalls, but once on the track, he became a lot more tractable.

“I was thinking he might be gelded and go for a break after tonight, but maybe he will just go for a spell,” Neilson said.

“He has grown as he developed, and it was a good effort against the older horses tonight.”

Trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec landed a double.

He won the standing start Happy New Year From SAHRC Pacers Handicap (2230m) on Premonition.

A well backed $1.95 favourite, Premonition found the front with an aggressive start and won by 6-1/2 metres from Assassinator ($6.50) with Maharajah ($2,.40) 13-1/2 metres away third.

Maharajah’s chances were ruined at the start when it was collected by an erratic Jimmy Locke.

Hryhorec’s double came up when Thee Old Bomb ($6.50) finished strongly to score a last-stride win in the Eco-Wise Plumbing Group Pace (1800m).

Thee Old Bomb scored by a half head from the well backed Lifeisbutadream ($2 into $1.65 fav), with Clarenden Express ($6), 1-1/2 metres away third.

For complete race results, click here.

by Graham Fischer, for HRSA