ASTUTE trainer Leon Wells expects his underrated sprinter Whiskey Fella to continue winning his way through the classes.
Whiskey Fella notched win number four at Tapeta Park on Sunday, scoring by a narrow margin from Rock Jester that is trained by Wells’ son Dean.
While Wells admitted winning a race at the expense of his son’s horse Rock Jester was a hard pill to swallow but he was still pleased with the win.
The trainer is adamant Whiskey Fella can continue to be competitive as he makes his way through the classes.
“This horse is flying, they went nice time so you’d have to say he is doing well,” Wells said.
Whiskey Fella is a seven-year-old that boasts only 19 starts but has won four and been placed 10 times for prize money of about $60,000.
“This horse was a six-year-old before he raced because he was so big they (owners) just put him out in the paddock and forgot about him,” he said.
“He stands 17.1 hands high and that’s pretty big for a galloper, plus he’s very wide across the rear end.”
“It’s amazing he’s been beaten by a short half-head so many times because he’s got the biggest head I’ve ever seen,” Wells said.
Whiskey Fella was ridden superbly by Kelvin Sanderson who had the gelded son of Newtown Jet settled just better than midfield and poised to pounce on the home turn.
Sanderson had the option of easing his charge around the heels of the leaders but opted for the shorter course home and stuck to the rails, which proved to be the wining move.
When Sanderson called on his charge for the supreme effort in the home straight the gelding responded magnificently and hit the line with only a long neck to spare over Rock Jester with Wills Hope only a neck astern.
Race leader Devine Decree battled on fairly to finish fourth but just in advance of There Were Roses.