TALENTED trainer-driver Craig Hayes regards four-year-old gelding Mickwillrev one of the best he has in his stable but he originally rejected the horse when offered to him by prominent owner Mick Filleul.
It was a great decision because Mickwillrev notched his 10th career win when he powered his way to victory in the $8000 Northern Tasmanian Light Harness Association Cup over 2698 metres at the TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston on Sunday night.
With Hayes in the sulky the gelding showed brilliant early speed and led comfortably and had no trouble staving off challengers in the home straight top score from Major Callum that battled on gamely after facing the breeze for the last two laps while outsider Double Dee flashed home from well back to run third.
Filleul bought Mickwillrev in Melbourne as a yearling but it was always intended for him to race in Tasmania.
“I paid $20,000 for him after (Victorian trainer) David Miles picked him out for me at the Melbourne sale,” Filleul said.
“But when I rang Craig (Hayes) to tell him that the horse was coming he said he didn’t have any room for him as his stable was full.”
“He agreed to take him for a few days while I found somewhere else to send him.”
“But the horse had only been there a day when Craig rang to say he would make room for the horse and he even asked to take a share in him because he reckoned he was the best horse I’d bought.”
“I ended up selling three more shares to friends and ended up with only one share for myself,” he said.
Filleul said Mickwillrev’s main mission this preparation is his home town Burnie Cup in January.
“He needs to win one more race to qualify for a start in the Burnie Cup but there’s a C4-C5 in a fortnight and if he draws well enough to lead he could be very hard to beat,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Greg Mansfield.