A horse with a litany of feet and leg issues has performed a minor miracle in the Flemington wet on Saturday.
Weekend Special, beset with terrible feet, fetlock joints and knees, had a day out in the rain, appreciating a track which had been downgraded to the heavy range by the time the Aspen Handicap was run.
Weekend Special winning the Aspen Handicap at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Mornington trainer Jason Petch became emotional when the gravity of the victory sunk in – his first win at headquarters.
Petch, who took out his trainer’s licence nine years ago, said Weekend Special’s owners, including his mother and brother, had stuck by him and now he had come good for them.
“There’s every conceivable problem wrong with him and it’s purely management and a lot of water work,” Petch said.
He said the five-year-old gelding would now go back to the paddock for a week.
“I’m so proud of the horse,” Petch said.
“We finally worked him out and when it rained today I was pretty happy.”
Well-supported favourite Aregee McLaren ($2.70), with leading Victorian jockey Glen Boss aboard, has his chances ruined with a slow getaway.
Weekend Special ($21) won by 2-1/2 lengths from Henwood ($5.50) with Broken ($7.50) a long head away third.
