SWAN Hill’s Noel Watson might not be in heaven yet – he might not be sure if he ever will – but by Sunday night he probably reckoned his life was as close to nirvana as it will ever come.
It started Friday at Echuca when his five-year-old gelding Owl Witness ploughed its way around a rain-lashed Heavy 9 track to win the $27,000 Melbourne Cup at Echuca Tickets Handicap over 1209m.
Things got even better Saturday when his five-year-old pacer Triple Rock Saint got up to take out the $10,000 Waste Sense Pace over 1720m in the eighth at Melton.
But Sunday, Sunday was the most historic day since his beloved Saints won the 1966 grand final, because at Marvel Stadium they overcame a 46-point three-quarter-time deficit to defeat Melbourne with a goal after the siren.
It was the biggest last-quarter comeback in VFL/AFL history, and Noel had been there to see it.
It completed the ultimate trifecta for the man whose gallopers and pacers all run in St Kilda colours.
Con Kelly trains Owl Witness for Watson and while it was just the fourth win in the horse’s 39-race career it proved good enough to maybe getting him another start at Swan Hill today.
Kelly says the horse is the number four emergency there and while Friday’s winning jockey Neil Farley is now suspended he is hopeful if the horse gets a start he will be able to pick up one of the riders whose mount had been withdrawn to make way for his.
“Friday in Echuca was colder and wetter than our cup carnival,” Kelly said.
“And by the time Owl Witness went around in the ninth, the track had been well and truly chopped up.”
He agreed as the horses straightened and headed for home, by the time they were 200m out they all looked to be going up and down in the one spot.
At which point Farley and Owl Witness seemed to find another leg and ran away with the race to win almost a length being eased up.
“It was his first win for our stable since we took him over from Noel, so it’s always good to get that one out of the way,” Kelly said.
“He’s very fit and well right now so I am pretty confident if he gets a start on Tuesday he will make a go of it, although the new rider will need to be able to ride at 54kg because our fella is well down the order.
“It is also a bit of a step up in class to a BM64 but you never know.”
And the Friday win certainly kicked off a big weekend for Noel – you see his Saints colours running around tracks all over the place but on Sunday his Saints ran their way right into the history books.
All they have to do now is win the club’s second flag sometime soon.
Kelly said the Echuca win in a BM52 class event was also a big step forward for country racing.
Like many bush trainers, he said it has been getting very hard for local horses to compete against big city stables, and by bringing in more 52s it gives the triers more options and a much better chance.
“Owl Witness looked really good on Friday and was well supported to pay $5.90, and it was a good ride by Neil, so having to replace him and step up will make it interesting,” he added.
“But if he doesn’t get a start there is a meeting at Mildura shortly, and he might go there instead.”
