‘It’s why I get so emotional’: Another Wil’s special family connection to owner Col McKenna

There is a deep and emotional family connection in the ownership of freak racehorse Another Wil who is named after a 14-year-old boy and could be on a Cox Plate path this spring.

The billion-dollar horse racing industry can often be an intense and cutthroat business, but for Col McKenna the emotion drips from his voice when he speaks about the proud family connection to freak horse Another Wil.

Another Wil is named after one of McKenna’s 12 grandkids – 14-year-old Wil John.

Grand National Steeple and Jericho Cup winner Wil John is also named after the teenager, so McKenna thought it fitting to maintain the family naming connection with Another Wil.

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McKenna’s entire family is in the ownership of Another Wil along with friends and work colleagues, including one who has worked for the prominent Warrnambool businessman and racehorse owner for more than 50 years.

The family hopes Another Wil can contest the Cox Plate this year, with one of the potential springboards coming on Saturday when the excitement machine shapes up in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Col McKenna and his 14-year-old grandson Wil John, who freak horse Another Wil is named after. Picture: Courtesy the McKenna family

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McKenna will be as proud as punch when he packs his family on a bus to take them from Warrnambool to Caulfield to watch the galloper, who has won six of his nine starts in brilliant fashion.

“It’s a great thing to have this horse named after one of my grandkids and to have all my family and a lot of my mates in the ownership of the horse, that’s why I get so emotional,” McKenna told Racenet.

“My wife Janice put everybody in our family in this horse, literally everybody.

“I would normally fly from where I live to the races, but on Saturday we will organise a bus and take a few of the kids.

“Another horse (Wil John) was named after my grandson and then when it came to naming this horse, I said just to call him ‘Another Wil’.

“Wil likes horses, he is interested in them.

“Another one of the owners of this horse has worked for me for 50 years and another guy has worked for me for a similar time, they were my first two employees.”

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Another Wil ridden by Jamie Kah wins at Caulfield last month. Picture: Getty Images

McKenna has won plenty of big races – including the Caulfield Cup with Jameka in 2016 – but said nothing compares to the thrill of racing a good horse with family members.

McKenna bred Another Wil – a five-year-old son of Street Boss who has rapidly emerged as a winning machine and one of Australia’s most exciting horses.

Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil exploded on to the scene with such promise that he started as the $3.60 favourite in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in April where he finished less than 2½ lengths from the winner Celestial Legend.

McKenna is reserved when assessing his horses but it’s clear he holds Another Wil in very high esteem.

Jamie Kah after Another Wil scored the Doncaster Prelude. Picture: Getty Images

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It is possible the Cox Plate could beckon later in the spring.

“Jamie Kah says this horse is a freak, but you do have to be careful when saying those sorts of things,” McKenna said.

“But I do know what a good horse looks like and he looks like a good horse, doesn’t he?

“After Saturday’s race he will go to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

“He is pretty good at winning, he doesn't miss very often.

“If he wins the Toorak, we would then look at going to the Cox Plate.

“It’s a big ask for him, but that’s what he could be tracking towards.”

Originally published as ‘It’s why I get so emotional’: Another Wil’s special family connection to owner Col McKenna