In the late 1980s while working as a farrier, Charlie Mizzi bought a mare named Miss Demure.
And that decision began a family involvement in harness racing covering many generations.
Mizzi bred nine foals from Miss Demure, including The Chosen One who delivered his first winner in the Pinky Point 2YO Pace at Ararat in 1994 before going on to win the 1995 South Australian Oaks.
Wind the clock forward to the present day and Mizzi takes Miss Demure’s great grandson Wotdidusaaay back to Ararat to contest tonight’s $30,000 Ararat Advocate Ararat Pacing Cup.
“I’m a single guy and my horses are my kids,” the 69-year-old told SENTrack’s Toby McKinnon.
Mizzi’s horses have been named by family members, with his niece deciding on The Chosen One after Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Wotdidusaaay’s mother, Willow Rosenberg, was named after a character from the popular television series, while Wotdidusaaay is a reference to another niece who is a part-owner in the horse.
While Wotdidusaaay has been a very consistent pacer, winning every year since being a two-year-old, things haven’t been smooth sailing for Mizzi and his beloved stable star.
“I had a few problems with him in May last year. I thought he was finished and he could not walk,” he said.
After working through the issue under veterinary advice and changing the horse’s feed, Wotdidusaaay has returned to be better than ever and won the Wangaratta Pacing Cup in early March.
“I lost my voice (at Wangaratta)…. I started yelling from the 500,” Mizzi said.
Wotdidusaaay has gate three and will be partnered by champion reinsman Chris Alford in tonight’s Ararat Pacing Cup at 9.03pm.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CHAT WITH MIZZI BELOW:
