Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Pinjarra hobby trainer Leeann Lee celebrated her second victory in a metropolitan-class event at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Sweet Lucifer scored an impressive win in the $21,000 Trotsynd Pace over 2130m, 35 years after her initial triumph.
It was in 1989 when Kim Young drove Lee’s first city winner, Scott’s Finale, and now she is more than happy that she purchased Sweet Lucifer for $7500 about five months ago.
Sweet Lucifer, the $5.20 second favourite, was driven perfectly by Donald Harper and won by a length and a half from the fast-finishing $11 chance Soho Moonraker, rating 1.55.5.
The Wildcard ($81) was smartest into stride from barrier three and he led for the first 100m before Hail Saint Louie ($11) got to the front, out three wide, but was foiled in his bid to get to the front, with Harper kicking up with Sweet Lucifer, one wide, to take up the running.
The lead time was a quick 35.6sec. and Sweet Lucifer then reeled off quarters of 29.7sec., 29.1sec., 29.2sec. and 29.3sec. With 300m to travel Hale Saint Louie locked sulky wheels with Soho Moonraker, with both pacers losing valuable ground. Soho Moonraker did a splendid job in surging home with a spirited late burst.
Sweet Lucifer, a four-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou, and the third foal out of the Modern Art mare Harriet Elisabeth, was purchased by Mardella trainer Michael Young for $25,000 at the 2021 Perth APG yearling sale, and his 20 starts for young produced two wins and 12 placings.
However, the small and slightly-built Sweet Lucifer was extremely temperamental and causing Young many problems.
“I hated him, and he hated me,” said Young. “He had to go, so I advertised him for sale early this year. He pulled, he had bad feet, and he was always going sore.”
Lee had watched Sweet Lucifer racing and took a liking to him. “He was advertised for ages, and they wanted $12,000 for him,” said Lee’s husband Rick. “The price kept dropping and we got him for $7500.
“Leeann always loves a challenge, and she has spent a lot of time trying to calm him down. She was taking him to the beach all through the winter, standing in the water with him to help his feet and his body in general.
“Sweet Lucifer has really flat feet and he bruises badly, and he races with pads on all four feet. I drive him in trackwork, and he also works a lot on the jogger, and our daughter Gemma also gallops him on the beach.”
Sweet Lucifer has filled the gap left by the retirement late last year of the family’s handy pacer Diamond Daze, who won nine races and was placed another 14 times, earning $68,581 from 63 starts.
Sweet Lucifer looks set for a bright career. For Leeann Lee he has had eight starts for four wins and four seconds for stakes of $33,797. He is following in the footsteps of his elder half-brothers, Orlando Blue (80 starts for 18 wins, 20 placings and $217,597) and the multiple Group 1 winner Tricky Miki (34 starts for 13 wins, ten placings and $541,923).