Keayang Tokyo shows star quality at Melton

Four-year-old gelding pacer Keayang Tokyo (Captain Treacherous) stamped himself as a potential harness racing star of the future with a tough death-seat win at Melton headquarters tonight (Jun 1) in the Nevele R Stud Pace.

Southwest Victorian trainer Marg Lee is having a stellar run of success, with four wins from the stable’s past six starters, and a 33 percent winning strike rate for season 2024.

Keayang Tokyo has had just seven lifetime starts, for five wins and two thirds, including in the VHRC Caduceus Classic of last season.

Concession reinsman Lochie Cook, who works for trainers Marg Lee and Paddy Lee, retained the drive on Keayang Tokyo, after the pair was successful in the Tontine Pacing Championship at Terang 10 days ago (May 21).

“Marg and Paddy are putting me on some really nice horses. Keayang Tokyo is a super-nice horse and really starting to prove it,” Cook said after the race.

“The team at home always thought he was a good horse and he is putting the runs on the board now.  They have a lot of nice horses going around and they’re getting the results.”

In his Melton win, Keayang Tokyo stamped himself as very much a horse on the way up. The four-year-old is the only progeny to race from the $100,000 winning mare Keayang Secret. 

Cook sat quietly on the gelding from the gate, rolling three wide around the first corner before settling outside the leader Younggiftedandblack for trainer-driver Anthony Butt who was setting a quick tempo.

At the 600-metre mark Cook asked Keayang Tokyo for an effort and the pacer strode away to win assertively from Lincoln River (Kerryn Manning), who was held up late, and Younggiftedandblack.

TOO TOUGH, TOO CLASSY!
He had to do it the hard way, but Keayang Tokyo justified his short quote with a great performance to win the Nevele R Stud Pace for Margaret Lee and Lochie Cook. pic.twitter.com/5e9uX9jOrw

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) June 1, 2024

It was the 93^rd driving win of Cook’s career and his 17^th for season 2024.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink