Sport
18 February, 2021
Driver eyes back-to-back cups
LOCAL driver Jason Lee is chasing a second successive Terang Co-op Pacing Cup victory this Saturday night.
LOCAL driver Jason Lee is chasing a second successive Terang Co-op Pacing Cup victory this Saturday night.
The Ecklin local is set to drive the Emma Stewart-trained Somewhere Secret in the $50,000 group two event.
A strong field of 13 horses, many of which have won other cups, accepted, leaving one emergency – local hope Nancy’s Boy – for the 2680 metre event.
Among the runners include Bendigo Cup winner Wolf Stride, import Triple Eight, Warragul Cup victor Mister Wickham, Cadaceus Classic winner Sicario, Hamilton Cup victor Fourbigmen, Ararat Cup holder Zadaka, Malcolm’s Rhythym, Sirletic, Majestic Cruiser and Jamieson Steele.
Former Mortlake local Steve Blacker will also contest the event with the pacer he owns Rollova.
Lee said was looking forward to this year’s Terang Pacing Cup, adding it was a meeting the locals always marked in the calendar.
He said it would be a special moment if he could manage to pull off back-to-back wins.
“Obviously its disappointing the stable hasn’t got a runner but I’m thrilled to have a drive and be driving for the powerful Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin team,” Lee said.
“I probably don’t want to look too far down the track but I’d love to go back-to-back in my hometown cup.
“We aim to try and win the race every year if we’ve got a horse good enough and even driving if I could somehow pull this one off it would be great.
“Somewhere Secret went around in the Hunter Cup last start which is more or less our biggest race in open class company here in Victoria.
“He was obviously down the track there but his form prior was good - like the Ballarat Cup he ran fourth, he was fourth in the Bendigo Cup and (in December) he beat Wolf Stride which will probably nearly be favourite in this race.
“He’s a genuine cups horse, he deserves his spot for sure and he should run a great race.”
Lee said Somewhere Secret would need plenty of favours in the run if the pair were to feature in the finish.
“He’ll just need some luck in running,” he said.
“If he can stay ahead of some of the big guns and if we could somehow roll to the front we’d be a massive chance.
“If that could unfold, it’s probably not the most likely scenario, but if we could somehow work our way to the front we’d be very hard to catch.”
Tim McLean remains hopeful he and his father Jeff can feature in the cup with Nancy’s Boy.
However, the pair require a scratching to gain a start.
“We’re emergency in the cup but we have a run in the other race,” McLean said.
“I wouldn’t mind if we did happen to get into the cup because I think he’d be thereabouts.”
Meanwhile, Lee will have a busy night, with the reinsman also set to steer Jilliby Selwood for brother Paddy and Change The Print, Keayang Silvagni, Reactor Factor and Jilliby Adore.
“Jilliby Selwood is a really nice horse, he’s just drawn a terrible gate so he’s going to need some luck over the short (distance),” he said.
“Keayang Silvagni, if he could somehow put it all together he’d be a big chance. Mum has also got the stablemate in that race who won a great race.
“I’m not 100 percent sure which one I’ll be driving yet but Keayang Destiny and Jilliby Adore if they both go as good as they can they will run great races as well.
“Then the boys in Change The Print and some of the boys in Highway to Heaven will just be very happy to have a runner on cup night and they’re both genuine chances as well.”
Terang Harness Racing Club manager Mark Roberts said the club was awaiting further confirmation from Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) on whether a crowd could attend the event when Western District News went to print.
He said the club was thrilled with the quality of fields.
“The fields are a whole are very strong,” Roberts said.
“The Trotters Cup has only eight in the field but it’s a pretty even field - it will be a very good race.
The Pacing Cup has a strong field including Wolf Stride which you would think would be one of the favourites.”
Roberts said the club would communicate further details regarding the event and crowd limits once they receive updates from HRV.