Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2015: Wayne Treleaven chasing unlikely glory with Wicked Intent

SATURDAY’S Magic Millions meeting will feature men who own paddocks full of blueblood horses, but they might just be upstaged by an Aussie battler who owns one.

Doomben Races

SATURDAY’s Magic Millions meeting will feature men who own paddocks full of blueblood horses, but they might just be upstaged by an Aussie battler who owns one.

Or at least part of one. Six point two per cent, if you must know.

It is not simply his only horse, but the only horse he has ever owned.

At his first dabble in the racing industry at 50, former Brisbane Wests rugby league captain and pest controller Wayne Treleaven has reached into a haystack and found not a needle but a gold bar.

He is part-owner of Wicked Intent, favourite for the Magic Millions to be ridden by the retiring Chris Munce.

Former rugby league footballer Wayne Treleaven and his horse Wicked Intent, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite.

“It’s hilarious,’’ said Treleaven who initially bought 12 per cent of the $16,000 buy for $1500 before on-selling half of it.

His brother-in-law Chris Goddard is the syndicate manager and Treleaven was motivated not just by the desire to have a bit of fun but by the deeper fear of the horse doing well and him missing out.

“I am just a bloke who likes a bet and beer,’’ Treleaven said. “No one can believe it. We are just shaking our heads. We have been to barrier draws and luncheons this week.

“One of the people I on-sold some of my share to has never been to the races in her life. She said to me yesterday ‘I thought we would be just going to the country meetings’.

“My sister and brother-in-law and two close friends are involved. We are having a ball, enjoying the ride and we don’t want to get off.’’

Chris Munce will retire after riding Wicked Intent at the Magic Millions.

Treleaven, who stands to win between $40,000 and $50,000 if Wicked Intent wins on Saturday, played a decade of grade football for Wests Panthers in Brisbane. His last game was the 1992 grand final win over Easts.

The horse’s three wins have taken Treleaven back to the days when the dressingroom was a sweet place to be after a major win.

“We have had some great times,’’ he said. “I remember after the horse’s second win at Doomben we grabbed a couple of beers went around to Muncie’s place and had a couple of beers with the horse, took some photos and had a good time. It was like the rugby league days.

“When he came around the bend and took over the lead and won by three lengths in his first race win it was the best thrill I have ever had. I was a different thrill to winning a grand final. In grand finals you feel you have some control, but not in racing.

“I am lucky in that I work around the areas where the horse is and I make sure I go and see the horse at the stables and the jump-outs and the trials.

Chris Munce has been a fan of Wicked Intent since riding him at the trials.

“I remember Chris getting off the horse after its second trial and he said “we will go all right with this horse’ and I thought ‘that is all we want’.’

“Someone said to me today there have been many people in horses who have never had a winner. We appreciate that. It’s our good luck.

“It is not only me. It is the other 10 owners as well who have had the balls to put our money in.’’

With feed bills to major trainers now reaching $5000 a month Treleaven senses there will be more people like him happy to sample the industry in small bites.

“It probably shows you the way racing is going,’’ he said. “I love having a beer and a bet at the pub but this is very special.

“We have taken 30 people to the races with us to watch our horse and if that is not good for racing I am a bad judge.’’

MAGIC MILLIONS FIELDS AND BARRIERS

$2 million MM 2YO CLASSIC (1200m)

No. Horse Trainer Jockey Weight (Barrier)

1. WICKED INTENT Barry Mitchell Chris Munce 57kg (5)

2. ZOUTENANT Kevin Moses Glyn Schofield 57kg (7)

3. LE CHEF Darryl Hansen Luke Tarrant 57kg (3)

4. OLD TRIESTE Andrew Noblet Jim Byrne 57kg (20)

5. SURF SEEKER M, W & J Hawkes James McDonald 57kg (18)

6. CARRIAGES Gai Waterhouse Tommy Berry 55kg (21)

7. FREQUENDLY Les Ross Brad Stewart 55kg (4)

8. SINGLE Gaze Nick Olive Damien Oliver 55kg (6)

9. FLAMENCO Liam Birchley Larry Cassidy 55kg (2)

10. MISS IDYLLIC D Hayes & T Dabernig Michael Walker 55kg (19)

11. PERIGNON Gerald Ryan Brenton Avdulla 55kg (11)

12. MADOTTI Matthew Dunn Timothy Bell 55kg (15)

13. SAGA OF THE STORM Liam Birchley Robert Thompson 55kg (10)

14. CLAUDIA Jean D Hayes & T Dabernig Stephen Baster 55kg (1)

15. PEPPERANO Liam Birchley Damian Browne 55kg (17)

16. RACY Gary Portelli Josh Parr 55kg (9)

Emergencies

17. FLAMENCO Girl Danny Bougoure 55kg (16)

18. RIGHT OF WAY Gai Waterhouse Tim Clark 55kg (12)

19. REAL GOOD Trevor Miller 57kg (14)

20. STAR OF NIGHT David Kelly 55kg (13)

21. WICKED INVESTMENT Paul Butterworth 57kg (8)

CLICK HERE: TAB FIXED ODDS