NOT FAMOUS JUST YET BUT MAYBE SOON?????

YOUNG LIONEL sprints hard down the outside to score a brilliant first up win with Jason Whiting on top.
(Photo courtesy Hollands Photographics)


Yesterday we took three runners to Pinjarra and I expected all three to run nice races. Whilst the first two performed well and the last one was disappointing, I was particularly keen on the horse having his first start called YOUNG LIONEL. The horse had trialled well and his work suggested a forward showing. On top of that he was out of a top class mare which I trained in the mid 90's called PRIME AGAIN.( Shit I am getting bloody old!!!)

Now a maiden winner at Pinjarra may not seem any big deal however this horse has already had enough setbacks along the way to make even the most patient admirer begin to show signs of frustration. Not to mention the fact that his loyal group of owners, who have raced many good horses with me since the early 90's, hadn't had a winner since 2007.

The horse jumped the crossing on his way to the barriers, almost leaving his jockey sitting on the track but to make matters worse, the race caller made mention just before the horses were loaded up, that there hadn't been many if any "famous Lionel's " over the years and he wondered how this horse got his name. If we weren't all feeling a bit edgy by now we soon were when the horse straightened up with only one horse behind him.

Typical of most rides from Jason Whiting, the horse settled well back in the field giving his opposition a good head start. The horse soon began to lengthen stride when pulled to the outside and a placing looked possible with 200m left to run. Then when Jason really asked the horse for an effort, he looked like he just joined in as he went past the leaders in the shadows of the post to record a very impressive first up win. The way he won suggests that there may be a few more good wins in store for this horse and I am confident that he will improve as his races get longer.

Perhaps one of the part owners, Lyle Bailey may tell the story about how the horse got his name one day however for the time being I think the owners are just happy getting a runner back to the track and into the winners stall after a long absence from both. I have to say that it gave me extra pleasure winning for such a loyal group of owners who have raced horses with me for nearly two decades having plenty of fun and success along the way. As I continue to say......... "There is nothing quite like the feeling of winning races for nice people!"

The connections of YOUNG LIONEL are all pretty pleased with themselves after the race and it looks like there may be another generation of budding horse owners coming through as the youngsters also join in for the photo.  Even "Fishy" cracked it for a smile as it was the first time for ages that he wasn't the smallest one in the photo! (Photo's as usual courtesy of Hollands Photographics)