Wai Key Wee lifts trainer

Branxholme harness racing trainer Alister Black hasn’t been feeling great in the last few months.

Stable star Vintage Cheddar (Betterthancheddar) was sold to Australia, the consistent three year old Idealism (American Ideal) broke down, and the winners just weren’t coming.

However two things have helped the hardworking trainer to turn his season around: Captain Tom’s (Captaintreacherous) impressive win at Winton last week and Wai Key Wee’s (The Pres) win in the inaugural Group Three David Moss Stakes at Ascot Park today.

“Two months ago, I was down in the dumps. Idealism broke down. He was just a nice horse to have around, and I was gutted and flat for about six weeks. I knew Captain Tom was going to be a nice horse so when he won the other day it picked me up,” Black said.

Today Black is back to his positive self, albeit a bit hoarse from cheering Wai Key Wee home for the horse’s biggest win of his short career.

The race was turned on it’s head when hot favourite Five Wise Men (Muscle Hill) trotted away slowly before braking.

“Nath (driver Nathan Williamson) said before the race that he thought he could win. I said bullshit. He said we just need someone to go flat out in front and we’ll just sit there smoking our pipe.”

And that’s how the race panned out with Excuse My French (Love You) and Matty Williamson making the pace with Peregrine (Pegasus Spur) trailing and Wai Key Wee running third on the running line.

“It couldn’t have worked out better. When Nathan made Peregrine do a bit round that first bend, I thought the race was playing into our hands.”

Excuse My French, Peregrine and Wai Key Wee remained in that order until it got down to the last 400 metres.

“I wasn’t that confident with a 1000 to go because I saw Nathan give him a wee flick, but he can get lazy,” Black said.

Turning out of the final bend Nathan made his move while Peregrine and driver Brent Barclay pushed out from the trail forcing Wai Key Wee three wide. Game on!!

“At the top of the straight I thought we could pick them up. He looks awful going but he’s got a lot of speed.”

Peregrine got to the lead halfway down the straight but Wai Key Wee outstayed her to win by three quarters of a length much to the thrill of his trainer.

“I was just going for it. It was such a sense of pride.”

WAI KEY WEE REPLAY

Black remembers his grandfather Alec Black and his uncle Tony O’Brien training trotters and it’s a gait close to his heart.

“I was brought up with trotters as a kid and I love them, and I can see how Phil (Williamson) has a stable full of them. My son Riley has been jogging Wai Key Wee on his jog days and he said to me that when he turns fifteen he’ll be able to get his stable hands licence. He was keen to drive trotters, but I told him that he’ll have to be driving trotters a while before he gets the hands.”

Wai Key Wee is owned by loyal stable clients Art Shirley and Paul McEntyre.

“Artie’s been with me since I started, and Paul said he needed something to do when he retired from the works, so he comes out and cleans the boxes.”

Now, after a couple of good weeks, Blackie’s back.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink