Fremantle veteran Hayden Ballantyne and a number of his Dockers teammates had cause to celebrate on Wednesday afternoon, with three-year-old Mankind saluting in style at Belmont.
The gelding, which is part-owned by Alex Pearce, Brandon Matera, Joel Hamling and Aaron Sandilands, handed Ballantyne his first city winner as a trainer.
Mankind was smashed in betting ($11 into $3.40 favourite) and hopefully the Fremantle players had a bit of their hard-earned on.
"The heart's still racing. All the boys are pretty excited and it's fantastic to get the result," Ballantyne told Racing and Wagering Western Australia post-race.
"It's a bit different (to football). It's a bit more intense."
Great win by Mankind today in WA. Mankind is trained by @freodockers player Hayden Ballantyne and his first winner as a trainer. It was $11 into $3.40... I think the lads have got the lot!! @SkyRacingAU @TonyBrassel @Quinny_1 @BigSportsBrekky #giddyup pic.twitter.com/n5EzycEFKU
— Dave Stanley (@daveystan1) June 12, 2019
Ballantyne, 31, only has a few horses in work but hopes to get more serious about training once he retires. His father Graeme has enjoyed great success as a trainer in Western Australia.
Mankind is smartly bred, being a half-brother to the well-performed Respondent (a Group 2 winner) and State Solicitor (a G3 winner). Ballantyne recently purchased the son of Denman from leviathan owner-breeder Bob Peters.
Fremantle is currently ninth on the ladder and will welcome Port Adelaide to Optus Stadium for a Round 13 clash on Saturday afternoon.