The celebrations will be big in the Michael Lakey household if Wild Wilbur brings his provincial form to the city in the Jacobs Creek Handicap (1110m) at Doomben.Wild Wilbur, who will be chasing his fourth win in seven starts, was named after Lakey's son, Wilbur Thomas Lakey, who celebrates his fifth birthday on Wednesday.The son of Desert Glance is part-owned by Lakey's wife Janelle and Bill Braden who paid a paltry $4,000 for him at the Sydney Easter sales as a yearling."If you saw the horse a

The celebrations will be big in the Michael Lakey household if Wild Wilbur brings his provincial form to the city in the Jacobs Creek Handicap (1110m) at Doomben.

Wild Wilbur, who will be chasing his fourth win in seven starts, was named after Lakey's son, Wilbur Thomas Lakey, who celebrates his fifth birthday on Wednesday.

The son of Desert Glance is part-owned by Lakey's wife Janelle and Bill Braden who paid a paltry $4,000 for him at the Sydney Easter sales as a yearling.

"If you saw the horse at the time you'd understand why he went for only $4,000," Lakey said.

"He's a beautiful horse but he's got a very ordinary conformation in front.

"His front legs were very offset and it took ages to get him to the track.

"When Janelle took a share in him with Bill they decided that all the prizemoney he wins would go into a trust towards Wilbur's education."

Lakey's problems with Wild Wilbur were compounded after the gelding's debut as a three-year-old when he finished fifth, the only time he's missed a place in six starts, in a maiden at Esk in May last year.

"A couple of weeks after the Esk race he suddenly went lame and we found later he had a broken splint bone but it was in one of his hind legs," Lakey said.

"He had a minor operation to fix it and spent a few months out recovering."

Wild Wilbur didn't race again for 10 months but his return was a triumph in a maiden at Ipswich in March.

At his next two starts Wild Wilbur was runner-up at Kilcoy and Caloundra before Lakey turned him out for a winter break.

Now a five-year-old, Lakey is hopeful the family pet can complete a hat-trick of wins as Wild Wilbur's pedigree finally emerges following two unbeaten starts this campaign at Caloundra and Ipswich.

"I think he's got a good chance again especially with the three kilogram claim for Michael Hellyer," Lakey said.

"Michael is riding in great form but Stathi Katsidis would have ridden him if he was available.

"Stathi is riding at Newcastle tomorrow and he gave the horse a few wraps after he won his last two starts on him.

"Stathi thinks's he's capable of winning in the city and eventually we'd like to try him in town on a Saturday."

Wild Wilbur's dam, Bewilder won four races and was placed on nine occasions from 16 starts under Sydney trainer Guy Walter including three Listed placings.

"When Guy (Walter) comes up here for the winter he stables his horses at Deagon where I train and he told me Bewilder was a very good mare," Lakey said.

Bewilder, who won in both Sydney and Melbourne, was runner-up in the Listed Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown and the Moet & Chandon (1200m) and Birthday Card (1200m) at Rosehill, all in 1997.