MOREE-owned gelding Shut Eye resumed at Goondiwindi on Saturday to easily win the 1200m Port of Brisbane Cup on an historic day that saw on-course race-caller Greg Kachel call his last meeting at Gunsynd Park.

Shut Eye, trained at Inverell by Wayne Oakenfull and owned by Moree’s Our Next New Horse Syndicate, was resuming after a lacklustre Golden Triangle campaign earlier this year.

The gelding started $4 favourite on Saturday, on the strength of a recent barrier trial win at Grafton.

“He smoked them,” Oakenfull said.

Shut Eye, ridden perfectly by Chris Taylor, parked off the leaders to the home corner before charging clear in the straight to win by nearly two lengths from Elected ($5), with Huss on First ($7) coming from well back to finish a length away third.

(from left) Justin and Wayne Oakenfull, jockey Chris Taylor and Shut Eye after winning the Port of Brisbane Cup at Goondiwindi on Saturday (Image: Bubbles Barbierato).

“Chris rode the horse well. He sat in third and fourth spot, and when he joined in on the turn, I thought, these leaders are in trouble. It was a very nice first-up win,” Oakenfull said.

The win was also part of bordertown broadcasting history, with the Goondiwindi Bush to Port meeting being Inverell race-caller Greg Kachel’s last official calling engagement at Gunsynd Park.

Kachel, 72, has been calling races at Goondiwindi for 25 years, but has decided to ease back his race-day commitments.

“My first association with Gunsynd Park was in the late 1990s when it was a dirt track,” Kachel said.

“If a dark cloud came over, they would rush the races through in case they got a few millimetres on the track that could make it unsafe.

Greg Kachel called his last meeting at Goondiwindi on Saturday. He’ll still call occasional once-a-year and picnic meetings (Image: Bec Cover).

“Today, it has a magnificent grass cover, and the public facilities are outstanding for a country track,” he said.

“Any grants or sponsorship have been used wisely. Except for a couple of years when I called for Sky Channel, I have been the regular caller at Gunsynd Park and, as fate would have it, my favourite horse of all time is the Goondiwindi Grey,” Kachel smiled.

“While I’m stepping away from calling at Gunsynd Park after a quarter of a century, I will still call the occasional once-a-year and picnic meetings until the time comes to finally hang up the binoculars,” he said.

Goondiwindi Race Club president Don Madden presented Kachel with a framed collage of photographs of Gunsynd – the Goondiwindi Grey – in recognition of 25 years’ race-calling at the track.

“I’ve really enjoyed covering the Goondiwindi meetings – it’s a great club with a lot of memories,” Kachel said.

“I’m sure Don and his committee planned for my last day to be a memorable one – there were five full fields of 12 and that kept me on my toes,” he laughed.

(from left) former club president Geoff Makim, current club president Don Madden and race-caller Greg Kachel with the framed collage of photographs of Gunsynd, presented to Kachel for 25 years of race-calling at Gunsynd Park (Image: Bubbles Barbierato).

“The various presidents and committees who have steered the club have been excellent, and I have made many lifelong friends.

“Gunsynd was my favourite horse – still is – and presenting me with a framed photo of the Goondiwindi Grey is very fitting, and very much appreciated,” he said.

Kachel said Toowoomba race-caller Brett Moody will take over the microphone at Gunsynd Park for future meetings.

“It was wonderful to have Brett at the meeting on Saturday, and we swapped many racing yarns,” Kachel said.

Justin Oakenfull and jockey Chris Taylor, with owner and trainer trophies after Shut Eye, trained by Justin’s dad, Wayne Oakenfull, won the Port of Brisbane Cup at Gunsynd Park on Saturday (Image: Bec Cover).

Shut Eye gave connections and trainer Wayne Oakefull the honour of being the winner of Kachel’s final race-call at Gunsynd Park.

“I said to Greg earlier in the day how we’d love to win the last race he’ll call at Goondiwindi, and Shut Eye got the job done for us – how good is that,” Oakenfull said.

Shut Eye is also part-owned in Western Australia by John Larkin – one of the original owners who opted to stay in after the Moree syndicate bought the gelding about 12 months ago.

“He really put them away in the last 100 metres and should improve on the run,” Larkin said.

Shut Eye, a winner at Jandowae earlier this year, will now be aimed at the 1200m Texas Cup on December 13 before tackling the Inverell carnival on New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, Moree Race Club is preparing for the Moree Ag Supplies and Steel Twilight Christmas races on Saturday, December 20.

The six-race card, the club’s biggest social event of the year, offers $96,000 prize money.

Races include a 950m maiden handicap and 1300m maiden plate, 1600m class 1 and maiden plate, 950m class 2 plate and 1400m BM-50 handicap.

Nominations close Monday, December 15 at 11am.

Moree Ag Supplies and Steel Twilight Christmas races

When: Saturday, December 20, 2025

Where: Moree racecourse

Time: Midday until late

Tickets: Try Booking Moree Ag Supplies and Steel Twilight Christmas Races