Multiple Brownlow Medal winner Lachie Neale owns Two Time Charlie, horse who debuts at Belmont this Saturday

With 14 years in the AFL, there aren’t many things Lachie Neale hasn’t accomplished. But the dual Brownlow medallist will experience a first on Saturday when Two Time Charlie - a horse he part-owns and is named after his ‘Charles’ Brownlow successes - makes his race day debut in a three-year-old handicap over 1200m at Belmont. The former Freo gun - who now plays for Brisbane - will reunite with one of his old teammates, now horse trainer Hayden Ballantyne, who says Neale had always shown interest in racing. “Obviously, Lachie and I played together for a few years, and he always wanted to jump in a horse,” Ballantyne said. “I said, ‘get in this one, he looks like he could be all right’. “When the other owners found out, someone said something about a Brownlow name. “It wasn’t the greatest name but we started to brainstorm some more and I threw in Two Time Charlie. “At least he got injured this year, so he couldn’t win another and ruin the name...yet. “I was going to put Lachie’s bill up when Brissy won (against Fremantle) last week but since he’s injured, I better not.” Neale isn’t the only footballer on the esteemed owners’ list, which features a recent Fremantle clutch hero and West Coast father-son duo, but Ballantyne assures the cross-town rivals won’t butt heads on race day. “Alex Pearce is in it, too, and he wasn’t too happy about the name, but he’s had Mankind and Advanced with me, so he’s been pretty lucky,” he said. “Jake and Chris (Waterman) always wanted to jump in a horse, so they got in this one, too. It’ll be their first runner. “Luke Ryan and Brennan Cox have owned one in the past but they didn’t go in this one, so if he gets up and wins, they’ll be sooking. “Footy is one thing and racing is another, so I’m sure everyone is going to be having a beer afterwards.” Two Time Charlie was a $110,000 yearling purchase and has already shown promise, finishing second in both his Lark Hill trials across the past month. “We held him back a bit in his first trial and then let him off the leash last time, and he showed a really nice turn of foot,” Ballantyne said. “I’ve got a rough idea of what the field is going to be, and there are a few decent ones in there. “He’s going to get some ground and the way he moves, I think he’ll be suited up to a mile. “I’ll give him this run - maybe two - and then he can come back ready for Ascot.” Ballantyne has high hopes for stablemate Paint It Red, a three-year-old filly who made an impression with a second placing and win at her only two starts last month. “Paint It Red is a real speed demon and it’ll be nice if we can get her to now settle a bit after jumping,” he said. “That way, she can save herself for later and get up to 1200m.”