Life has been have tough for Lachie Neale of late.
Neale, a great of the AFL who just months ago celebrated his second premiership, has been at the centre of a tabloid scandal.
Neale’s marriage sadly ended, with his wife heading back to Perth and the two time Brownlow medalist relinquishing the captaincy.
But a race in Bunbury, about 170km south of Perth in Western Australia, gave the 32 year-old reason to smile.
Neale has a share in a horse, a 3 year-old called Two Time Charlie …
The gelding was actually trained by a former AFL star, the small but talented Hayden Ballantyne, but was transferred late last year to SJ Miller.
It raced today in a maiden at Bunbury and delivered – not that it was an easy watch.
Heading into the straight, it looked no chance, sitting last. But the gelding let rip, leaving it until the last stride to win it on the line.
The official margin was .04 of a length and it probably won’t surprise that Neale wasn’t on track to watch the win.
First place, for what it’s worth, paid $13,500.
