Once scared of horses now training winners

Harness racing’s Zac Pearson admits as a youngster in Mt Gambier he was far from a horse lover.

“My parents used to go to the trots all the time when I was a young kid,” he says.

“I didn’t really like horses to start off with.

“I was terrified of them.”

That gradually changed though.

“I lived about five minutes from the Mount (Gambier harness racing) track and used to go past it on a school night.

“I’d ride my bike over there. I didn’t know anyone, but eventually started off with Kevin Von Duve.

“He took me to the trots one night and I’ve loved it ever since.”

So much so that the 25-year-old is now working in the industry with leading trainer Marg Lee and also enjoying training in his own right.

Pearson has had just the two horses to the races in his first season as a trainer.

He gave Ponderosa Andrew two runs, but it has been four-year-old Exalted Figure that has given him the start that any rookie trainer would be delighted with.

Pearson has prominent reinsman Jason Lee to thank for securing him the son of Safari, who was formerly trained by Emma Stewart.

“He drove him at Ararat one night and won, and I said to Jason (that) I’m looking for a horse.

“He said he’d see what he could do for me and we ended up buying him.”

Pearson raced Exalted Figure for the first time 11 days after the Ararat victory, with him running second on February 23.

Exalted Figure went on to win twice and run two minor placings in five starts in the preparation for Pearson – the first win a dream result, being on Mt Gambier Pacing Cup night.

He was rapt with that initial campaign, but knew the time was right in April to give him a spell.

“He wasn’t quite right in his last run,” he said.

He finished unplaced in the Border Cup Final at Hamilton after taking out a heat.

Fresh from a break, the gelding resumes in the Jack Rabbit Winery Pace (2100m) at Geelong tonight, with Jason Lee in the cart.

It is a prospect that again has Pearson, and a big band of owners including family members, excited as he looks to take his training career to the next phase.

Pearson said Exalted Figure had already paid back his purchase price, with a lot of racing ahead of him.

For Pearson, he could not be happier with what he has achieved so far in harness racing.

He’s loving life with the Lees, who he first joined early last year and is now in his second stint with after grabbing some time back with his family when COVID-19 restrictions allowed.

By David Brehaut for HRV