Sport
17 June, 2021
Star trotter shines on return
GROUP one trotting mare Keayang Livana produced a classy return to racing last Saturday night.
GROUP one trotting mare Keayang Livana produced a classy return to racing last Saturday night.
The five year-old daughter of Imperial Count swooped to a 3.6 metre win in the group three La Coocaracha Trotters Free For All at Melton.
Driven by Jason Lee for trainer mum Marg, it was the star’s first race in six months, with the win its fifth victory on the trot.
“First up I definitely had a few little concerns, full credit to Marg and all the team at home,” Jason Lee said post-race.
“She’s had a couple of little niggles and we’ve just taken our time getting her to the races after a couple of trials and it’s good to see it’s paid off.”
Jason Lee said the stable was enjoying Keayang Livana’s run of form after the mare made a late debut.
“She didn’t race as a young horse because she had a few issues, probably her biggest concern is just keeping her in one piece,” Lee said.
“At the moment she’s good, but you just never know with some of these ones, they’re week to week or day to day prospects.
“We will just try and poke her around and keep her healthy and happy and hopefully when the big races come around she’s in tip-top order and hopefully very competitive.
“She’s got no reason not to be. The mares definitely match up with the boys in this grade.”
Keayang Livana made it a city double for the Lee stable, with Jason guiding Highway to Heaven to victory in DNR Logisitics pace earlier in the program.
Fellow stable star Code Bailey finished fourth in the TAB Italian Cup.
Jason said he was happy with Code Bailey’s performance, but feels he needs to get the five year-old “sharp again”.
“Going back to his first prep with us, we were driving him tough a few times and he was running good races but probably a bit like that (Saturday night),” he said.
“He did need the run, he missed a bit of work after his last race, so we probably just need to give him a helmet to follow for a few starts and get his confidence back.
“He did have a real crack when I pulled the blinds on the corner, and so he was having a real good blow afterwards.
“(We’ve) just got to hope he keeps improving, which I think he will.”
Meanwhile, Pink Galahs will make her racetrack return in the group three Noopy Kiosk Trotters Free For All at Melton this weekend.
The four year-old mare is one of six horses alongside Crime Writer, Queen of Crime, Itzamajor Surprise, Helgart and Shadow Sax, set to head to headquarters for Ecklin trainer Matthew Craven.