WHEN lightly raced four-year-old gelding Willow The Wisp stormed home to score an impressive win in the Gainsborough Maiden over 1120 metres in Launceston on Wednesday night it evoked plenty of emotion from his part-owner.
Owner Peter Geeves found it difficult to contain the tears when Willow The Wisp powered home to grab victory in the shadows of the post ahead of Kentucky Tea and outsider Judah.
Willow The Wisp, prepared at Spreyton by Adam Trinder, is one of the last horses bred by his late father Phil Geeves and the gelding is a son of one of the family’s best performed gallopers Mimosa Willow.
“The dam won six races and was a good mare,” Geeves said.
“This (Willow The Wisp) is her first foal and we’ve also got a filly by Ad Velorem,” he said.
Trinder said the gelding has a bright future.
“I was a bit worried about 500m from home when he was being held up but once Kelvin (Sanderson) got him to the outside he finished off just as I had expected,” Trinder said.
“I am sure there is a bit of depth with this horse and he will probably be better when he gets over a bit more ground,” he said.