Gath, Lang, and now Aitken, Alford plus the Kiwi invaders Molander, Lilley and Butt – all names synonymous with high achievement at the flourishing trotting gait
But at the start of their careers did any of them achieve five winners from their first five runners?
Welcome to pure Standardbred gait “General” Lee or Paddy to be precise
The Terang teenager is bred on the pacing cross of the well known Craven and Lee families who operate their successful harness racing, dairy farming and other agricultural businesses in South West Victoria
The thought of racing trotters had been a firm no – no in the family until Paddy decided to risk excommunication from farm life by announcing that despite no experience or immediate family expertise to guide him his harness racing future would focus on trotters
On March 14th 2014 he kicked off his career as the “ghost” trainer of the Keystone Salute trotter Salute Branach
Having won zero dollars from his first two tail end racetrack appearances Salute Branach was a “pocket money” purchase for Paddy that returned him $16,073 from 4 wins and a placing from 6 race starts
Next came Another Clare who he purchased as a brood mare from successful trotting breeders (Lucy Clare, Downsouth Clare, Game Ebony, Clare’s Brother etc) Graham and Clare Pearson also of Terang
Out of a place at her previous three starts and originally due for retirement Paddy prepared her for a first up victory at Geelong followed up with a second placing in the Hamilton Trotters Cup
With another $7,358 in his trotting “kitty” the time was right to move on to his greatest trotting challenge to that date
The well named Jilliby Outlaw was his defining project from the day the colt was born
From a family that was always known to have a ability but difficult to get going this was either mission impossible or the ultimate challenge for a young trainer with no previous experience in preparing a trotter from scratch
Patience and persistence proved to be a virtue and after many challenges and set backs Paddy bought up his “ghost” trainer hat trick when the chestnut son of CR Commando won second up at Geelong and followed up a week later with an astonishing win at Cranbourne.
Hard on the heels of the Outlaw’s success came another first up victory with the exciting Maorisfavouritesun which Paddy purchased from another Western Districts horseman and syndicate owner “Jovial” John Meade
Not many (if any) teenage trainers have won a Trotters Cup but the son Sundon took out the Stawell feature for Paddy with a stylish win – his second from four starts as an “registered” trainer
Like the famous USA Confederate soldier General Robert E Lee harness racing’s “General” Lee is no stranger to developing battle strategies
He knows the value of a foundation broodmare strategy to a successful future in the business battle of harness racing
And with the help and encouragement of another great Western Districts trotting breeders team of Richard and Pauline Mathews he has been able to make a strategic move towards developing his elite foundation trotting family
Securing a lease of Richard and Pauline’s beautifully bred un – raced broodmare Dream Interest is already looking like a masterstroke
By Dream Vacation from Maorimoon she is closely related to Master Maori ($203,875); Spider Girl ($317,657) and Illawong Armstrong ($108,910) and the successful sire Wind Cries Maori (60 winners from 97 starters)
Her grand dam Maoris Glory 14 wins 8 places, $109,366; 2:02.9 included an Inter Dominion Heat, Dullard Cup, 2 y o & 4 y o Sires Stakes final wins amongst her list of credits
This writer well remembers the phone call seeking some suggestions as to what would be the best stallion to put Dream Vacation in foal to
“How much can you afford Paddy” was the obvious question thinking that about $3,000 would max out the then 16 year old
“Don’t worry about that” came the reply … “I can always call on “Nan” (The late and lovely family matriarch Alice Craven) to kick in …. I like Muscles Yankee”!
Muscles Yankee it was and the stunning filly and beautifully gaited trotter named Keayang Yankee came to be
With her 2 y o racetrack debut in June last December came Paddy’s fivepeat of winners and it too was no mean feat
This win was followed up by a tough first up second to the outstanding Breeders Crown and Redwood Classic winner High Gait NZ ( 12 starts, 10 wins $161,351) at her first three year old start and then a very smart 1.58.1 all the way victory at Melton just over a week ago
And with a 2 y o Majestic Son half sister to Keayang Yankee now in his stable there is every chance that a six from six record for the “General” is on the cards
Paddy Lee has probably never heard of the late and great Trotting historian Joe Coulter (aka Tuxedo)
Joe had passed on well before Paddy was born
But he has a lot to thank him for
Way back in the 1970’s the trotting gait was much maligned and headed for distinction in the three states (NSW; Vic and SA) in which trotters races were then programmed
It was Joe Coulter (After which Harness Racing’s prestige “Tuxedo” Journalism Awards are named) who had the vision to encourage the formation of the S.A. Square Trotters Association to save the trotting foundation of the sport from oblivion
The SASTA was a huge success and some years later the Victorian Square Trotters Association was formed
And the rest is history – The all trotting Redwood Carnival was created and today the once destined for distinction trotting gait is the only racing segment of harness racing that is growing
Now raced in each mainland state and playing a major role in holding up race fields almost everyone wants a trotter in their stable these days
And why not?
After all if you have never trained a trotter you can’t claim to be a trotting trainer!
Paddy (“General”) Lee and wishing you continued
success in the years ahead
Muscles Yankee
Hoof Note
Keayang Yankee made it three wins from four starts
when she won her elimination of the Need For Speed Princess Series
rating 1:59.1 at Maryborough today
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
