Ennion’s long shot worth a shot

Danie Toerien

Punters face a very tricky nine-race card at Durbanville today with some fairly big fields and highly contested events.

These conditions, however, form the breeding ground for value, and brave bettors who play their numbers right could make a pretty penny.

The first leg of the Pick 6 looks a bit of a minefield, with six of the 13 runners quoted at 8-1 or shorter, so going wide here is advised.

One of the outsiders who should not be ignored, is 16-1 long shot Wyag, trained by Greg Ennion.

This What A Winter gelding ran three times as a juvenile, but obviously suffered from a breathing problem. That has hopefully now been fixed thanks to an operation, said Ennion yesterday.

“He had a very obvious breathing problem,” said Ennion yesterday. “His trachea collapsed. He has gone for an operation and thankfully it was a success.”

According to Ennion, Wyag is working well and he has had a decent gallop.

“The best part of the gallop was that he didn’t make any respiratory noise.

“I wanted to give him another gallop, but it just didn’t work out that way. If any of the more fancied runners fluff their lines, he’ll be biting their noses off on the way past.”

Wyag’s racing career was almost cut short after the owners were hesitant to have the operation done and opted to rather retire him. But according to Ennion he convinced them to give the three-year-old a chance after his last race.

“Richard (Fourie) actually said we must have him operated on. He said we don’t really understand how good a horse he can be if he is just able to breathe.”

Keagan de Melo will be aboard Wyag today.

Best to include Ennion’s charge in exotics and perhaps take an eachway sidebet.