Caulfield trainer Geoff Wheeler has made a return to the winners’ enclosure with the maiden victory of Black Beau Tie at Moe.
Wheeler is a throwback to yesteryear when the Caulfield area was dotted with trainers with stables in their backyards.
With those houses and stables gradually sold off, Wheeler was the last to sell up and move on course around six years ago.
Nowadays Wheeler has a couple of boxes at Neerim Lodge and Tuesday’s success by Black Beau Tie was his first since Beau Padrille scored at Cranbourne in May 2015.
“It’s a big relief and it feels really good,” Wheeler said.
“He’s pretty clever and he’s got a lot of ability.”
Black Beau Tie was ridden by Jake Noonan who first remembers ringing Wheeler as a 4kg claiming apprentice.
“I didn’t know at the time that he’s Reece’s father,” Noonan said.
“Reece had a good association with my dad (trainer Tony Noonan) and spent sometime with him and Reece was a good jockey in his own right.
“We’ve been close family friends so it’s pretty sentimental to get a winner for Geoff.”
Black Beau Tie is the only horse currently racing for Wheeler, registering his first win on Tuesday from six starts.
