Whenmechief leaves SA

The highly successful stint of Whenmechief with South Australian trainer-driver Darren Billinger has come to an end.

Whenmechief was on a float home to Mildura only an hour after scoring yet another impressive victory at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.

A six-year-old gelding who came to Billinger for three weeks and stayed for three months, left having won seven races, including the Christmas and Whyalla Cups, plus finishing third to Smolda in the SA Cup and picking up about $45,000 in stakes.

In the Hopkins Saddlery Pace (2230m) on Saturday night, Billinger urged Whenmechief ($1.70 fav) forward from gate four but found Kerry Green on Magic Trump ($36.40) keen to hold the early lead from gate one with the result a sizzling lead time of 44.3 seconds was recorded.

“I can’t remember a quicker lead over the 2230m,” Billinger said.

“Once I got to the front I thought I had better be a bit careful or he could have proved a sitting shot.”

However, with quarters of 30.0, 30.0, 30.5 and 29.7, Whenmechief scored easily by 7-1/2 metres from Bettor Party ($3) with Crazy Dave ($24.90), three metres away third.

Part-owners Rhett Smythe and Gavin Peters said their goal with Whenmechief was to have the gelding contest the hometown Mildura Cup in April.

Unfortunately, Billinger will be away on a pre-booked holiday, so it was decided to return the gelding to part-owner and former trainer “Pud” MacDonald.

“He will be given a short break then Pud can get him ready for the Cup,” Smythe said.

“We can’t believe the improvement he has made for Darren.

“Ideally, Whenmechief could have stayed with Darren but he had booked his holiday and we really want to see him in the Mildura Cup. We wouldn’t rule out a return to Darren later in the year.”

However, connections brought Whenmechief’s half-brother Freddy Fudpucker down to Billinger to see if he could add to the gelding’s one win from 17 starts.

Billinger was disappointed to lose Whenmechief but understood the owners’ thoughts.

“I’ll have to take out an ad for a free-for-all performer,” Billinger said.

“Losing Frank (the recently retired Come On Frank), and now Whenmechief, I need a new horse to race in the free-for-alls.”