Western Victoria: Riches beckon after Reel surprise
By Tim Auld, October 14, 2019 - 5:27 PM

Respected Warrnambool trainer Merv McKenzie got a pleasant surprise when Big Reel won a $40,000 benchmark 70 over 1100 metres at Hamilton on Saturday.
Big Reel ran his rivals ragged to win by 3½ lengths from Akkadian. 
It was the eight-year-old’s eighth win from 33 starts.
“I must admit I got a bit of a surprise with the win,” McKenzie said. “It was his second run from a break and I thought he might need it. 
“He was freewheeling down the hill and around the corner. I wasn’t sure he’d hold on but he was just too strong.”
The former jockey said Big Reel was a problem track worker.
“We can’t gallop him on the training track,” McKenzie said. “We just swim him and pop him over a few jumps. 
“I’ve got to give credit to my stable staff, who’ve done a great job with him. 
“This win means he’s got a start in a $150,000 race over 1100 metres on the last day of the Flemington carnival, which is a great result for his owners.”
Big Reel took his stake earnings to $190,370 with the Hamilton victory.
His win didn’t take everyone by surprise. While Big Reel paid $15.70 on the tote, he was backed from $14 to $11 with bookies.
Mates toast Glassey
Last Saturday’s impressive Hamilton debut winner Glassey Miss will be the link that keeps a large group of old mates together, according to Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde.
Glassey Miss ($8) came with a strong run down the middle of the track to defeat Glenferrie Girl and Undoubtedly So in the 1100-metre maiden. Wilde believes more wins are in store for the three-year-old filly.
“It was a nice win,” he said. “I think she’s got a bit of ability. 
“We might turn her out now and bring her back for some nice races in the autumn. I’ve always had a bit of an opinion of her. 
“A lot of my old footy teammates, old school friends and old housemates are in Glassey Miss. 
“The win is a great result as she’ll be the glue that keeps us all together. 
“They’ve all been messaging each other for the last few weeks about Glassey Miss. 
“We had a lot of excited owners after she won but I had to tell them you don’t win every time you go to the races.”
Glassey Miss, an $18,000 purchase at the 2018 Inglis VOBIS Gold yearling sale, picked up $12,600 for her maiden win.
Black-booker
Punters who took the short odds about Lady Marizza in a maiden at Hamilton should forget the run. As the stewards report confirmed, the mare was slow to begin and settled worse than midfield, then was eased off the heels of Dodge the Hounds near the 800-metre mark. She should be hard to beat next time. 
Foot woes mar fairytale 
Horsham stayer Surprise Baby is equal favourite for the $8 million Melbourne Cup on November 5, but trainer Paul Preusker has mixed emotions.
Preusker’s partner, talented jockey Holly McKechnie, did all the early preparation work with Surprise Baby before serious injuries put her career on hold. 
McKechnie broke bones in her left foot in a mishap on the way to the barriers at Penshurst in 2017 and her bad luck continued last year when an unraced three-year-old stood on her right foot, again smashing bones. She hasn’t ridden in a race for nearly two years.
“I really feel sorry for Holly,” Preusker said. 
“She did a lot of the early trackwork with Surprise Baby. I’ve got no doubt she would have been in the mix to ride him. She’s missed so much. 
“The stable is going really well and a lot of our success is due to the hard work Holly has put in. 
“Holly is really struggling with her injuries. It’s terrible to see such a young person hobbling around. We’re not sure if she’ll ride again. 
“We’re all really excited about Surprise Baby going into the Melbourne Cup but I often wonder what might have been if Holly was fit to ride the horse.”

 

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