THE SA PERSPECTIVE by Graham Fischer
An emotional Jason Lee celebrated the record breaking win of Kimani in the 2018 Baxter Hire & Sales Mount Gambier Gold Cup (2580m).
In winning, the Matthew Craven-trained Kimani, became the first horse to win two Mount Gambier Cups but it was the elation showed by Lee which had the crowd cheering.
Halfway down the straight when victory was virtually guaranteed, Lee started waving his whip in salute.
Kimani ($11.40) scored by 17-1/2 metres from Okelerho Lad ($128) with Emain Macha ($1.50 fav), 3-1/2 metres away third.
“The win was for my Nan and Pop (Alice and Matthew Craven),” Lee said.
“When I was very young Nan and Pop would often bring me to the trots here, Nan said they had the best steak sandwiches, and they still do.
“When I started driving it was on my bucket list to drive a Mount Gambier Cup winner and tonight I was able to do it.”
For Matthew Craven it brought up a treble of Cup wins in consecutive years winning with Smoken Pump Action in 2016 with his father Peter in the sulky, then last year with Kimani with Chris Svanosio driving.
Craven said it was likely that Kimani would now be heading to Western Australia to join the Gary Hall stable.
“He’s a good stand start and mobile horse and they have good stakemoney on offer in WA,” Craven said.
“I think a change of scenery might help his career and be good for the owners.
“Kimani is a nice horse but just finding it a bit tough in Victoria and that is why a new environment might help him regain his best form.
“On Saturday, I knew his barrier manners would ensure he was competitive but after the heats thought with even luck, Emain Macha or Bee Gees Bandit might be too good.
“As it happened they didn’t have any luck early and Kimani was good enough to win.
“It was a great drive by Jason, he is a gun.
“I was at a wedding but I knew all my horses were in good hands with Jason in the sulky and so it proved.”
Apart from Kimani, Lee also won on All Perfection and Nova’s Delight for Craven to give the trainer a treble plus landed Keayang Starzz in the Ubet Pacing Cup for his mother Margaret.
The favourites were involved in an early incident.
Bee Gees Bandit ($3.10) galloped at the start and collided with Emain Macha which had stepped away safely and costing him valuable ground and forcing him to settle at the tail of the field.
Rod Barker went forward on Emain Macha midrace, but Lee saw him coming and came out in front and sprinted to the front leaving the favourite parked.
Once in front, Lee rated Kimani perfectly and he was too strong at the finish.
THE VICTORIAN PERSPECTIVE by Paul Courts
VICTORIAN reinsman Jason Lee made a successful hit-and-run mission across the border last night.
Heading to South Australia for the Mount Gambier Cup program, Lee ventured home with four winners.
“I felt I had a good book of drives, so to get four winners is pretty pleasing,” Lee said. “It made for a good night and certainly worth the trip.”
Lee kick-started his stellar evening by capturing the opening event with All Perfection, which is trained by his cousin, Matthew Craven.
After working to the lead from barrier five, All Perfection was never seriously challenged as she cruised to a soft 15-and-a-half metre win from Turing Express, with Caesars Astrum three metres away third.
“After she got to the front she did it very easily,” Lee said.
Missing an early double when second with El Paco, Lee was back in the winners’ circle after combining with Craven again.
Partnering Novas Delight, Lee found the lead again before the son of Bettors Delight scored from Samara Cash and Keayang Trumpet.
“Novas Delight had everything his own way and was never going to be run down after that,” Lee said.
Lee combined with Craven once again to secure the main event – Gold Cup – with Kimani, which emulated his stablemates by working to lead before completing an effortless 17-and-a-half metre win from Okelerho Lad, with Emain Macha three metres away third.
Rating 2:01.8 over 2580 metres, Kimani successfully defended the Cup title he secured last season.
“He did well to win last year’s Cup and was just as good this time,” Lee said. “He seems to really enjoy Mount Gambier as he’s had six starts here for four wins and two seconds.”
Lee rounded out his quartet by piloting Keayang Starzzz to glory in the UBet Cup for his trainer-mother, Marg.
Also leading throughout, the son of Four Starzzz Shark accounted for Our Jericho and Just Wantano in 1:59.9 over 2190 metres.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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