3 minute read
After a successful career in the saddle, Neville Wilson has his first city runner as a trainer at Sandown.
It is more than 10 years since Neville Wilson turned up at Sandown in a competitive nature.
Wilson heads to Sandown on Wednesday to saddle his first city runner when Silkstream steps out in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1300m).
For 50 years Wilson was a jockey, riding over 2000 winners, and last rode at Sandown in March 2011 before a fall at Geelong later that month ended his career.
At the time Wilson was Victoria's oldest jockey while also milking cows on the family property at Camperdown.
The farm is gone and now Wilson potters around with horses, although Silkstream is the only one he has in work.
And at 74 years of age Wilson is still riding his own trackwork.
"It keeps me young and gives me something to look forward to," Wilson said.
"I've only got the one horse in work and I've got another one in pre-training to come in.
"I'm just taking it a bit easy."
Silkstream is the only horse Wilson has produced at the races after gaining his trainers' licence last year.
In 12 starts for Wilson, Silkstream has posted three wins, the latest in a benchmark 58 race at Warrnambool in March.
In two subsequent starts, Silkstream has finished second at Terang in April and third at Warrnambool during last month's carnival.
Wilson said Silkstream deserved the opportunity at making her city debut.
"It's a fair way to go, but it's a fillies and mares race at benchmark 64 level, so it's worth the trip," Wilson said.
"But there's a couple in it that go pretty good. Matt Laurie's horse (A Pinch Of Luck) goes alright and supposedly Freedman's horse (Maybe The Best) is pretty smart.
"But this is a nice race for her and Laura (Lafferty) can take three (kilograms) off her back."