Gold Coast trainer Lennie Wheeler is still searching for another Oompala despite savouring a rare city victory with Handon Hero at Doomben.Handon Hero provided Wheeler with only his fourth metropolitan victory since he was licensed to train seven years ago when the three-year-old scored a long neck victory over Cha Cha Man in the More Fun If You're There Maiden (1350m).Wheeler, 49, has 25 horses in work on the Gold Coast but is the first to admit the tough grind of training is no picnic in the p

Gold Coast trainer Lennie Wheeler is still searching for another Oompala despite savouring a rare city victory with Handon Hero at Doomben.

Handon Hero provided Wheeler with only his fourth metropolitan victory since he was licensed to train seven years ago when the three-year-old scored a long neck victory over Cha Cha Man in the More Fun If You're There Maiden (1350m).

Wheeler, 49, has 25 horses in work on the Gold Coast but is the first to admit the tough grind of training is no picnic in the park.

"I'm up every morning at 2am. I love it," he quipped.

Wheeler has been a regular on Brisbane tracks over many years, spending more than 20 years as foreman for Gold Coast trainer John Wallace and a number of years with the late Dalby trainer Des Burns.

"I was 20 years with John Wallace and I was with Des when he quinellaed the Magic Millions with Sea Cabin and Regal Devotion in 1988," Wheeler said.

"I've only been training for seven years but this is only my fourth winner in town.

"I won the big Lismore maiden with Borsha's Warrior who has since won in town before Les Kelly took over his training."

Wheeler is also well remembered as the travelling foreman for Wallace's former top stayer Oompala who finished third to Jeune in the 1994 Melbourne Cup.

"The best horse I had anything to do with was Oompala and it would be nice to find another one," he said.

"I took Oompala away for John (Wallace) to Sydney and Melbourne. After he won the Caloundra Cup he went south and won the Newcastle Cup and was runner-up in the Metropolitan before going to Melbourne.

"He failed badly in the Caulfield Cup that year before finishing third in the Melbourne Cup."

Oompala started only three more times before ending his career with almost $700,000 in prizemoney from 10 wins and 12 placings in 32 starts.

Handon Hero, who is owned by Macau trainer Steve Leung, was purchased at the Magic Millions as a yearling.

"I've had him for all his four (previous) starts but he went shin-sore after his first run in May when he ran last at Doomben," Wheeler said.

"I thought he would win first-up at Eagle Farm last month and had something on him at big odds when he ran second, and his next two runs were good as well."