Bailey Wheeler rides treble at Eagle Farm as Sydney beckons

Bailey Wheeler enjoyed a breakout day with a treble at Eagle Farm, and it could be a matter of time before he makes a move interstate.

Bailey Wheeler had his best day in the saddle at a city meeting with three winners at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Teenage riding gun Bailey Wheeler enjoyed a breakout day at Eagle Farm as whispers of a potential move to Sydney grew louder.

Three-kilogram claiming apprentice Wheeler, who has recently switched bosses to link with Group 1 trainer Annabel Neasham, savoured his best day on the metropolitan scene with riding treble – Show Me Mercy (race 3), Regal Pom (race 4) and Maximum Output (race 7).

It appears certain the one-time wild child will soon be in demand in Sydney, as long as he keeps his head down and keeps riding winners.

“This is my best day riding in the city, it helps that I am getting on the right horses,” Wheeler, who rode five winners at a Gold Coast meeting earlier this year, said.

“As for a move to Sydney, it might be on the cards at some stage.

“But I am pretty happy here riding winners and things are going quite well.

“I will keep taking it day by day and keep turning up to work and doing the hard yards.”

Wheeler lifts Maximum Output to victory at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Meanwhile, king of the early season Queensland two-year-olds Les Ross emerged from his hospital bed to score with another one of his Mishani army at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Ross had been in the wars when he had surgery to have a cyst removed from his stomach, but the trainer wasn’t feeling the pain when Mishani Lily ($16) clung on to win the QTIS 2YO Plate (1000m).

There had been high drama after the start when another one of Ross’s Mishani team – Mishani Delta – buckjumped and caused jockey Anthony Allen to tumble.

Allen was unhurt and meanwhile Mishani Lily, under Sam Collett, led them a merry dance for home.

It appeared the filly had the race in her keeping but she was out of petrol tickets late and had to fend off a last-gasp dive from surging Liam Birchley-trained filly Territory Ash ($6.50).

Another stride would have made it interesting but Mishani Lily, a daughter of Kobayashi, had done enough to score.

Two-year-old filly Mishani Lily wins for trainer Les Ross at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Ross always has his two-year-old equine babies up ready to run early and this was his second metropolitan win with his juveniles in seven days.

At Toowoomba the previous Saturday, Ross-trained horses with the Mishani moniker had run the trifecta in the opening two-year-old race of the season, the Pat O’Shea Plate.

In other news, Queensland’s Group 1 gun Rothfire will have a break after his disappointing performance when finishing fifth behind Imperatriz in Friday’s Moir Stakes at The Valley.

Rothfire had been well supported into $5.50 in the Moir but didn’t let down, albeit after being held up for clear running between the 300m and 200m.

Rob Heathcote said Rothfire would not push onto the Manikato Stakes after pulling up with sore front fetlocks.

“It’s not an injury, it’s just what happens to many horses when they race on firm tracks,” Heathcote explained.

“He got held up at a vital time in the Moir, but he still didn’t let down like we know he can.”

Rothfire had been on the verge of grabbing a slot in The Everest before Friday night’s unplaced run.

Originally published as Bailey Wheeler rides treble at Eagle Farm as Sydney beckons