Wieland chasing more trophies for his cabinet room

By Glenn Davis

There’s not much trainer Fred Wieland hasn’t achieved in his 35-year career in North Queensland racing.

Wieland has won a host of country Cups and the only major trophies that have eluded him in the state’s north have been a Cleveland Bay Handicap and Townsville Cup, which remain on his radar.

The conditioner from Cairns is hopeful of snaring another trophy for his cabinet room when he targets the Townsville Amateurs Cup at Cluden Park on Sunday.

Former Victorian Perovic will spearhead Wieland’s charge in the Townsville Amateurs Cup over 1609 metres while a decision will be made late whether Missile Thunder starts in the Townsville Amateurs Sprint over 1200 metres.

Missile Thunder has pulled up well since winning a 950 metre Open Handicap in Cairns on Tuesday, but Wieland will make a late call whether to back him up.

Wieland is confident Perovic will be competitive again following his last start second to the Trevor and Peter Rowe-trained Major Artie in the Banana Cup at Innisfail on August 30.

The five-year-old son of Pierro claimed the Cairns Amateur Cup at his previous start at Cannon Park in the middle of August.

“He copped a bit of bad luck in the Banana Cup, but his Amateur Cup win in Cairns was very determined,” Wieland said.

“This looks a winnable race for Perovic but 1600 metres might be a fraction short.

“I think he’ll get 2000 metres and he’ll have his next run in the Innisfail Cup in a couple of weeks then go for a spell.

“He’s been a good buy and he’s a family horse now as my son, Neil, bought him and gave his mother and I a share.”

Perovic was bought online for $4,000 and has won three of his seven starts for Wieland.

The galloper started his career in Victoria with Danny O’Brien before being moved on to Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn.

Perovic is a half-brother to Coolmore Stud sire and dual Group 1-winner King’s Legacy who was a star two-year-old of his year in 2000.

He won the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ and Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick before placing behind Ole Kirk in the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill.

Wieland has been around horses most of his life after starting off helping his father around the stables when he was young.

“I was a truck driver for Coca-Cola and I did some farrier work before I started training,” he said.

“I had a young family at the time and got into training full-time when my father got sick.

“I did both jobs for a while but when the kids finally got jobs, I took on training full-time.”