A Win Both Sue And Brian Deserve

It is the fragility of life. In one moment, just as you imagined things could not be much better, your world can be overturned. 

Life was good for Brian and Sue Barton. They had been on their new property in the Southern Highlands at Canyonleigh for just over a year, had poured their hearts into setting up the place just as they had wanted, and were having success with their small team of greyhounds.

But then, just before Christmas in 2021 …

“I had a feeling of being unbalanced,” Sue explained. “I didn't understand, and I had a little bit of a fall out the back.

“We went trialling at Nowra and then we had puppies that we took the vet. At the vet, the lovely vet Linda said: “Okay, I just have to ask you guys, have you guys have a had a fight? You don't seem your normal self Sue.” I said I just don't feel right. And she said (to Brian): “Shouldn’t you have taken your bloody wife to the hospital rather than taking the dogs to the vet?””

The Bartons went to the doctor where an MRI was ordered. The results revealed an abnormal mass on her brain and Sue was rushed to hospital to undergo life-saving brain surgery. A week later came the devastating diagnosis that Sue had stage four terminal brain cancer.

“We were shattered. We sat in the lounge room and cried,” said Sue.

Brian added: “To hear you are going to lose your loved one to something like that, is just … it just cuts you down. You hear it, and see it, but you never want it to happen to someone you love. It’s just not fair.

“She has the nicest soul you would ever meet. Everyone says how great she is. She has changed my life for the better.”

With Sue's health deteriorating, the couple made a difficult but necessary decision. They had to move the dogs out and focus on other things.

“You put things in perspective. You to get one life, so you put your loved ones first,” said Brian.

In the midst of such a harrowing time for the family, came the glimmer of a shining light in the form of the little girl they called Annie – Wyndra All Class, who will chase Group 1 glory for the Bartons and trainer Daniel Gatt at Wentworth Park on Saturday evening in the Ladbrokes National Futurity Final.

“(As a pup), she looked good, and she felt good and you do everything right, and we were going to train her ourselves but everything was just getting a bit too hard. So I asked Daniel to train her, and he said 100%. 

“I came home and told Sue and she went off at me. She said it’s my dog why did you give my dog away.

“But Daniel’s been so good for Annie. He treats her so well, he’s done the right thing by her, he’s placed her well and the way he talks about her.”

Says Sue: “I said to Daniel, you talked about her and you treat her like we would, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.”

Wyndra All Class was brilliant in her Futurity Heat registering her ninth win from 16 starts, all of which have been at Wentworth Park. She will start from box 3 in the final, and while she may not carry all the weight of money from punters, she will carry the hopes of everyone who knows the story of Sue and Brian Barton.

“She has brought so much joy to Brian. I just hope this continues,” said Sue. 

Asked what a Group 1 win would mean for her husband, Sue replied: “He'd be the most excited person. 

“I think it's everything, all the hard work would have paid off. The dedication he’s given, and I think it just would be everything he's ever wished for them.

“He’s the most lovable person in the world, the softest heart, everyone loves Brian and he’s my best friend.

“I think this guy deserves a break.”