By Lesley McMillan
AUSTRALIA Day has delivered a moment decades in the making for one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most respected racing identities, with local legend Michael Binney capturing the 2026 Barmah Park Balnarring Cup in emotional fashion.
Binney’s home-bred mare Diamanda powered to a dominant four-length victory, carrying a record 77kg, sealing one of the most memorable wins in the history of the Balnarring Picnic Racing Club.
For the 79-year-old horseman, it was not just a race win, but the fulfilment of a lifelong dream forged through generations of racing heritage, perseverance and deep community ties.
Racing runs deep in the Binney family, with Michael’s great-grandfather earning a ride in the inaugural Melbourne Cup in 1860. Michael’s own journey began in 1962 as a strapper at the historic Epsom and Mentone training stables.
By 1972 he was riding track work, and three years later he secured a trainer’s licence, specialising in picnic racing, the grassroots heart of the sport he has served ever since.
As breeder, owner, trainer and sole training rider, Binney had unwavering belief that Diamanda, affectionately known as Rhonda, was ready for Balnarring’s feature race. After failing to secure a start for the previous three years, a late non-acceptance finally opened the door. Everything else fell into place.
The mare’s fitness, temperament and strength gave Binney confidence that the 77kg impost would not be an issue. Rhonda had been trained to carry weight, regularly working under Binney in a full-sized saddle. His race instructions to jockey Shaun Cooper were simple and decisive: “let her lead and let them try to catch her”.
The strategy worked perfectly, delivering Cooper his first Balnarring Cup and giving Binney the win he had long coveted at his home track.
A life member of the Balnarring Picnic Racing Club and a committee member for 28 years, Binney holds the course in special regard. Of all his successes over the years, none carried the same meaning.
“Winning the Balnarring Cup was the Jewel in the Crown. I could win the Melbourne Cup, but it wouldn’t mean as much to me as winning this race with this horse,” he said.
The victory was also deeply personal. Diamanda’s racing name was created by Binney’s late wife Margaret, who studied the mare’s breeding, Miss Glitter by Golden Snake, and chose a Greek name meaning diamond, symbolising brilliance, strength and elegance.
Diamanda displayed all those qualities in a win that doubled as a tribute to Margaret’s memory.
Away from the track, Rhonda has become a familiar and much-loved sight on Balnarring Beach, where locals gather to watch her morning work.
Known for her playful nature, she often rolls in the sand and poses for pats, delighting onlookers. Binney encourages the interaction, proud to act as an ambassador for racing and to help strengthen community connections with the sport.
Despite turning 80 in July, Binney has no plans to slow down. Riding and training, he says, keep him mentally sharp, physically fit and young at heart.
For a man who has quietly given decades of service, mentorship and generosity to his local community, the Australia Day triumph was more than a win – it was a celebration shared by an entire region.
First published in the Mornington News – 2 February 2026