Despair turns to belief; hopelessness leads to optimism.

For Indianna Weinert, Royal Choisir’s drought-breaking victory at Ascot last Saturday could not have come at a better time personally and professionally.

Weinert is relatively new to training, just in her second season and celebrated success for the first time early on with Carlin Road at Narrogin in 2019.

In an exciting conclusion to an 1100m handicap, Carlin Road got up in the last stride to win by a half-head to deliver Weinert her first milestone win.

Unfortunately for Weinert, up until the weekend, Carlin Road was the only time she was able to grace the winner’s enclosure at the races.

After a testing and frustrating 13-month winning drought, Weinert was full of self-doubt and questioning her abilities as a trainer.

“It was only last week I was thinking what can I do to win races, or what am I not doing to win,” Weinert told The Races WA.

“It was definitely getting to me mentally; I was questioning everything that I was doing.

“It’s such a tough game and I had a lot of trainers tell me to keep going, it will come, just keep going.

“I just pushed myself, pushed myself and I feel like this could be the start.”

Royal Choisir was having her third start for Weinert and went around as the rank outsider in the Crown Perth Handicap (2200m).

The six-year-old mare spectacularly saluted at long odds, returning $101 on Tabtouch Fixed Odds and $71.70 and $10 on the tote.

A daughter of Proisir, her second career win not only caught punters on the hop, but Weinert as well, her expectations leading in were underwhelming.

“I’m still on a high, very much so,” Weinert said.

“I catch myself walking around the stable with a big smile on my face.

“It was only on the morning of the race that I’m thinking I’d be happy with $1400 for just going around.

“I had many people asking why I didn’t tip her, but I had no idea she would run a place let alone win.

“As she went past the line my face was just jaw to the floor, thinking how, is it her?”

Weinert can’t wait to experience that winning feeling again.

She hopes her third success won’t take as long as her second.

“I think the horse (Royal Choisir) benefits going three weeks between runs,” Weinert said.

“I’m looking at a race next month on the 25tt over the same distance and class in race.

“Then maybe after that we might look at the Bunbury Cup.

“I think that’s on the agenda now.”