Neil Wieland chasing biggest training win

By Glenn Davis

Neil Wieland is in the infancy of his training tenure in Far North Queensland, but is hopeful of landing his biggest prize of his short career in the Winter Cup at Townsville on Sunday.

Neil is the son of Cairns trainer Fred Wieland and saddled his first runner, Perovic, who finished last in a field of nine at Townsville’s Cluden Park on April 21.

The 43-year-old conditioner wasn’t discouraged by the below-par performance before saddling his first winner with his next runner, New Hampshire, at Mount Garnet on May 2.

New Hampshire won again at Gordonvale a week later to give Neil his second victory.

With only nine starters in his fledgling career, Neil is happy with his progress so far.

“I’ve had a bit of beginner’s luck and things are coming along well, but a few more winners would be great,” Neil said.

Neil, who combines training with his full-time job working for a battery company in Cairns, will take Perovic back to Cluden Park for the Winter Cup over 2000 metres.

Perovic was one of five horses Fred trained for his son before they were transferred to Neil when he took out his trainer’s licence.

A son of Pierro, Perovic was originally trained in Melbourne by Danny O’Brien before being moved on.

He then joined trainer Matthew Dunn before Neil bought him for $4,000 at an Inglis online sale and gave him to his father to train.

Fred coaxed Perovic to four wins from only 10 starts before his son began training him.

Perovic is yet to find his best form in three starts for Neil and is coming off a last start fourth, beaten less than three lengths, by the Stephen Massingham-trained Smart Legend in the Amateurs Cup at Mackay on May 26.

“It was only his fourth run this campaign and second over 1800 metres,” Neil said.

“He’s been looking for 2000 metres and his last run was a good lead-up for this.

“With his weight (55kg) he should be competitive.”

Neil has thanked his loyal staff for his early success and is hoping Perovic will make it to the $150,000 Townsville Cup over 2000 metres on August 8.

“The plan is to run him in the Townsville Cup and he’ll have his next start in either the Rob Koch Memorial in Cairns on July 23 or an 1800 metre race at Mackay on Newmarket day on July 17,” Neil said.