Trots Centre: Ears to a new venture as owner Wally branches out

Necessity is the mother of invention, coined Plato, and along with passion it was also the instigator of Wally Toczynski’s training career.

It’s a tick over 12 months since the long-time trots owner graduated to the training ranks, an expansion that at age 65 he says has vastly enriched his appreciation of the sport.

“I enjoy it a lot more because I am hands on. I get to clean them, feed them, shoe them,” Toczynski said. “I appreciate it a lot more and learn what trainers have to put in to get them to the race track.”

Toczynski’s stable of two will both be among tonight’s runners at Shepparton, with Ears Ponder contesting the Shepparton BMW Pace, on Trots Vision at 5.27pm, and Pearlescent the Saddleword Shepparton Pace at 6.32pm.

Both had previously been trained by Toczynski’s friend and relation John Woodham, but when the latter had to step back owing to health challenges the owner decided to take the plunge.

“I was taking the horses to the races and helping with them at home, and so ended up getting my own license,” Toczynski said. “I had been involved for 30 years as an owner, but hadn’t been hands on.

“John showed me the ropes, how to work them, feed them and drive them. I picked it up over six to 12 months and Tony Xiriha has been a big help as well.

“It’s fantastic. I love it because it gives me a break from work. I work all day, then drive from the city to Monegeeta to Jody Woodham-Murdoch’s property and work the horses.”

Ears Ponder is a particular favourite, with the eight-year-old gelding having been snapped up as a yearling at Australian Pacing Gold sales. Plenty of patience was shown before he first saw the race track at age four, with a training track fright providing something of a spur.

“He was very small and never grew, but we decided to try him,” Toczynski said. “We had him on the track and John said ‘he’s a bit small, I don’t think he’ll make it’.

“He was training near the Sunbury airfield and a plane went over and he bolted. We did about eight laps and I was just hanging on and afterwards I said ‘John, this is the fastest horse you’ve ever had’.”

Ears Ponder would proceed to not only 116 starts, but would also register Toczynski’s first training win, having saluted at Kilmore on April 24 with Xiriha in the sulky.

The Ponder eight-year-old is rated an outsider in tonight’s field, but his trainer considers him “definitely a place chance”.

“He keeps getting bad draws and is drawn wide again, but I expect him to be on the speed and run a consistent race,” Toczynski said. “He’s always a good price, but once he gets to his right class, and he’s just about there now, invariably he runs a good race.”

Pearlescent is yet to break through in 12 starts for her new trainer, but Toczsynski said she was well placed for a forward run tonight.

“She’s a high speed horse. She’s very fast out of the gate, but can be a little cranky and it can take work to get her to settle. I expect her to lead for a far way and be in the top four.”

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