The Greek Freak gets well deserved win

He’s been knocking, but today on his home track The Greek Freak (What The Hill) cleared maiden ranks for his Winton trainers Richard and Fiona Stevens.

Prior to today’s race which was sponsored by the couple’s Winton Subway business, the five year old squaregaiter had run two seconds and a last start third.

Today driver Brent Barclay settled the five year old four back on the fence before he went forward to sit parked outside leader Jay Bee Hill. These two horses broke away from the rest of the field and The Greek Freak had half a length to spare over Jay Bee Hill at the finish.

THE GREEK FREAK REPLAY

“Sometimes at night we would be trying to work him out and we’d ask ourselves what would Tony (Richard’s late father Tony Stevens) do? He would have said, keep on going. You just have to be patient and with trotters you just have to do miles and miles and miles. We’ve only done half the miles but we’ll take that (win) today. It was really satisfying,” Fiona said.

The Greek Freak was bred by Raelene Balle and initially trained by her husband Derek before the Stevens bought him from Gavelhouse for $1,400 at the beginning of November last year as an unquailed four year old.

“Richard saw him at Gavelhouse and thought a big track would suit him. We didn’t realise he hadn’t been on a jogger, so he broke the jogger and a few halters. That’s the start of the story and we’ve just been really patient. We’ve had a few hairy trips. He used to be prone to doing 360s at the winning post at three quarter pace. The ability was always there. We just had to let the old brain catch up.”

The Stevens qualified him at Wyndham in mid-January but it took him nine starts before they saw some return.

“He’s wants to do it and it was just getting him confident. We just had the trotting shoes on him, then we switched to aluminiums, but it was clear that he needed more weight in front. Brendon Franks (farrier) and Nathan Williamson have been very helpful and we really appreciate that advice. The front shoes are on backwards and a couple of weeks ago we got a wider set in front.”

The Stevens originally lived at Drummond but have since moved into Winton.

“Our old neighbours Doris and Juon Schonn come to all the races our horses are in, so it was good to have them here today.”

The Stevens own Subway franchises in Winton and Queenstown and fit the horses around the business.

“We’re there Monday and Tuesday and then Wednesday to Sunday are with the horses. We go up to Queenstown every second Wednesday. We make it work.”

The win was the couple’s second in their short training career.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink