Charlie Mizz celebrates his 70th birthday in style

Long time harness racing farrier and trainer Charlie Mizzi celebrated his 70th birthday with the first winning double of his career at Ballarat on Wednesday night. 

And he achieved the feat with the only horses in his stable,  both of whom he bred! 

Seven-year-old pacer Wotdidusaaay ($1.90 fav) speared across from his wide draw to lead easily and driver Michael Bellman made sure his main danger Layden never saw daylight in the home straight with the son of Tintin In America holding a four metre advantage on the line. 

Wotdidusaaay served notice of a pending win with a fast finishing second at Geelong last week. 

“He was unlucky at Geelong because they walked and it was a dash home,” Mizzi said. 

Mizzi admitted he was concerned at the pacer’s form since resuming from a spell. 

“He was disappointing in a couple of runs but we found he had sore stifles and he was a grumpy horse,” he said. 

Later in the night three-year-old Cooper Cleaver completed a double for Mizzi and a driving treble for Bellman when he led most of the way in the Inter Path Pace. 

Beaten for early speed from the pole, Cooper Cleaver was set alight early by Bellman who wrested the lead off Island Caesar inside the first 200 metres of the race. 

Cooper Cleaver ($2.50 fav) surged clear of his rivals when Bellman released the reins on straightening and the son of Ultimate Machete scored comfortably by seven metres from Inexorable with Abbie Lincoln three metres away third. 

Mizzi said Cooper Cleaver is still a work in progress despite breaking his maiden status at his 10th start. 

“He is a big horse with a big stride but the penny hadn’t dropped yet with him,” he said. 

“He is a good stayer which he showed when he gave a kick in the straight after doing lots of work to get to the top.” 

Mizzi admitted he was feeling good vibes as he headed to the track on his milestone birthday. 

“You know I had this gut feeling that both of them could win as they had been working up to it,” he said. 

A prominent farrier in the Melton area, Mizzi got his trainer’s licence 50 years ago. 

“I actually got my licence twice, first when I was 20 and then I had a break and got it back about 25 years ago,” he said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink