05 October 2017 | Trots Media – Cody Winnell
It will be an emotional night at Tabcorp Park Melton tomorrow for the connections of popular pacer Tee Cee Bee Macray.
The five-year-old, who has drawn pole for the $50,000 Group 2 Olympus Feeds Smoken Up Sprint (Race 6), is part-owned by the late Brian Dobson, who passed away earlier this week following a long and brave battle with illness.
Tee Cee Bee Macray was Mr Dobson’s favourite horse and any mention of the gelding would bring an instant smile to his face.
“It’s an emotional week for connections,” Tee Cee Bee Macray’s driver and close friend of Mr Dobson, Greg Sugars said.
Mr Dobson visited Tee Cee Bee Macray last Friday at Larajay Farm.
“It was very special,” Sugars said.
“It was his last trip out there and he saw the horse … Tee Cee Bee Macray has meant so much to Brian and his family.”
Sugars admitted the decision to commit to Tee Cee Macray had been a tough one given he also has a long and successful association with Major Crocker (drawn nine for tomorrow night’s feature).
“Not only is the horse racing really well but losing Brian was a massive influence on my decision to stick with Tee Cee Bee Macray. It wasn’t an easy decision though. Major Crocker has been so impressive but in the end I just couldn’t get over not driving Tee Cee Bee this week for so many reasons,” Sugars said.
“And I’m aware it may have an influence on Perth and whether or not I get the opportunity to drive Major Crocker, so it wasn’t easy.”
Paul Dobson, Brian’s son, is also a part-owner of Tee Cee Bee Macray, with long-time owner/breeder Ian Kitchin, Boris Salivin and Ken Adams. The horse is trained by multiple Group 1 winning trainer Alan Tubbs.
Tomorrow night’s feature sprint provides a lead-in to next Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 Allied Express Victoria Cup at Melton and several horses will see this as their last chance to push for inclusion in the Grand Circuit classic.
Sugars said Tee Cee Bee Macray’s plum gate draw gives him options.
“He does have gate speed but we haven’t had much of a chance to show it for many reasons, mainly bad barriers,” he said.
“He’s punched through early from back-row draws in fast lead times and in trials we’ve had him come out quickly, so he can do it.
“I guess being behind Lennytheshark would be an ideal situation because you know he will take you to the sprint lane, but the good thing (about Tee Cee Bee Macray) is he’s been strengthened up … and I don’t think he’d be out of place if we decided to try and hold the lead either … so that could be an option.”
Inter Dominion, Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup champion Lennytheshark is favourite for tomorrow night’s race, currently at $1.9 with TAB.com.au from barrier seven. Tee Cee Bee Macray is $4.8, with My Field Marshal $5 and Major Crocker (to be driven by Gavin Lang) a $6 shot.
Meanwhile, in big news for trots fans retired superstar Smoken Up and his trainer/driver Lance Justice will lead the field out for tomorrow night’s race.
Smoken Up won 74 races from 153 starts, earning over $3.6 million in prizemoney with a best winning mile rate of 1:48.5.
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) made the decision to rename the Legends Mile the Smoken Up Sprint following ‘Trigger’s’ retirement in 2014.
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