Neil Wieland follows father Fred into training ranks

By Glenn Davis

Neil Wieland has taken the plunge into training and will have his first starter at Townsville on Tuesday.

Wieland is the son of Cairns-based conditioner Fred Wieland and will saddle Perovic in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1400 metres.

“I’ve transferred five horses I have an ownership in from Dad and Perovic will be my first runner,” Neil Wieland said.

Neil Wieland will combine training with his full-time job working for a battery company in Cairns.

“I’ve managed numerous battery companies in Cairns over the past 25 years and with two kids to look after it will still be my main job,” Neil Wieland said.

“I’m at the track every morning around 5am, so I’ll still help Dad who has around 20 horses on his books.

“Dad isn’t getting any younger and he might scale down a bit in the coming years, so I thought now was the right time to start training.”

Neil Wieland said a training partnership with his father remains on the cards in the future.

“I thought about a training partnership with Dad but that might come a bit later on,” he said.

Neil Wieland will be a proud man if he can emulate his father’s track deeds.

“Dad and his father, who also is named Fred, have been great trainers and hopefully I can be just as good one day,” he said.

Neil Wieland hopes to target the Townsville Cup during the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival with Perovic.

Perovic finished fifth in a field of six behind the Stephen Massingham-trained Armour Force in a 1200 metre Open Handicap at Cairns on April 9.

“It wasn’t the right distance for Perovic last start as ideally he’s more of an 1800 to 2100 metre horse,” Neil Wieland said.

“I bought him this time last year and he’s done well but he never had a high enough rating to get into the big Cup races here last year.

“But, his rating is a lot higher now, so hopefully he can make it to the Townsville Cup then the Cairns Cup.

“I’m hoping he’ll run well in his first run for me, but I’ll be happy if he just places.”

Neil Wieland paid $4,000 for Perovic at an Inglis online sale and has since won four of his 10 starts.

He originally started with Melbourne trainer Danny O’Brien but only won a maiden at Moonee Valley in 2023 before joining Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn.

After two wins for Dunn at Murwillumbah and Lismore, Perovic was sold to Neil Wieland and is now raced by his parents along with fellow trainer Krystin Allender and the original owners Woofie Racing who stayed in the syndicate.