Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Retired businessman Steve Levar has happy memories of when he trained a couple of pacers in WA in the mid-1980s, and now he is enjoying great success as an owner after almost 40 years away from harness racing.
Now 80, Levar owned and trained Sir Eric when he won races with him at Richmond Raceway, Northam and Pinjarra. He now is the proud owner of up-and-coming star pacer Miki Jet, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old he races in partnership with his son Steve.
Miki Jet, trained and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, notched his fifth win from seven starts in Western Australia when as the $1.70 favourite he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m WA Foton Diesel At Catalano Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He did that well within himself,” said Hall. “He travels well in front, and when they come at him, he always has something to offer. He has a good attitude and performs well under pressure.”
Levar said that when he was training pacers in the 1980s his son was a youngster who started calling the trials at Byford before calling at the trots and gallops.
“After a while he decided to go to Singapore where he bought a business, publishing a magazine with all the form from all around the world,” said Levar Snr.
“He sold the business recently and plans to return to live in Perth next year. It was a big surprise when he rang me and said he had a horse with Gary, and I was able to join him in the ownership of Miki Jet.
“He was following the form of New Zealand races and picked out Miki Jet. He made an offer, and the owners accepted it. He has also just bought another horse from New Zealand, Mandown, who arrived at Hall’s stable a couple of weeks ago.”
Mandown is a four-year-old by Vincent who has had 16 starts for two wins, six placings and $30,014. At his final start in New Zealand Mandown finished second to Lou Baby at Cambridge on January 29 this year.
At his debut at Alexander Park on December 31, 2022, Mandown finished third behind Sooner The Bettor in a three-way photo finish. Sooner The Bettor went on to finish third behind Merlin in the New Zealand Derby at Addington, and in March this year he showed his class when he finished second to Leap Of Fame in the Miracle Mile and second to Frankie Ferocious in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.