At Witz End still racing on strong

By Glenn Davis

He may be a 10-year-old but veteran Lismore sprinter At Witz End is showing the enthusiasm of a horse half his age.

It’s just one reason why his trainer Daniel Bowen has put retirement on the backburner for At Witz End who tackles the Open Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday.

At Witz End has become a virtual automated teller machine for Bowen who turned a $10,000 investment into a money-making machine.

The son of Epaulette, who was previously trained at Ballina by Owen Glue, has earned more than $815,000 in prizemoney in his 83-start career.

A total of five of his 15 wins has been with Bowen, who bought him as an eight-year-old after he had not won in more than two years. 

“He had earned $342,000 when I got him and now, he’s won $815,000,” Bowen said.

“He’s been an old marvel and is sound as a bell.

“He’s got the legs of a three-year-old and doesn’t have any soreness or arthritis like a lot of horses his age.”

The thought of retirement crossed Bowen’s mind once early in the year.

“He wasn’t going that well early in the year when he had a few feet problems and that’s the only time retirement entered my head,” Bowen said.

However, At Witz End turned his form around after some work from an old farrier mate of Bowen.

“Dave Howe used to do farrier work for my late father and he came out of retirement to fix him,” Bowen said.

“The owners were so pleased with his results that they gifted a five percent share to him.”

At Witz End’s career highlights came under Bowen’s care in last year’s Listed ATC Cup at the Sunshine Coast and the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich.

However, he’s only managed one win in his past 18 starts since his famous Eye Liner Stakes victory in June last year.

That win came in the Sir James Kirby Quality at Grafton in July just after Howe worked his magic on At Witz End.

In five starts since, At Witz End has placed twice, including a last start third to the Robert Heathcote-trained Flywheel in last month’s Lismore Cup.

“I thought he was on song for the Lismore Cup, but 1500 metres just saw him out,” Bowen said.

“He didn’t get beaten far so he should run well over 1200 metres.

“It’s been a privilege to still have him racing.”