Chris Lewis shines in the race named in his honour

Last night Gloucester Park honoured one of harness racing’s greats in Chris Lewis  with the running of The Lewis and the veteran with a star studded career went one better than participating when he guided No Noney (Rock N Roll Heaven) to a well deserved win at Perth headquarters.

Lewis is a household name in harness racing in a career that has spanned 50 years and over 6,000 winners. In addition to winning two Inter Dominions with Carclew in 1976 and Village Kid a decade later in 1986. Lewis has won over 40 Group 1 events and has the unique record of winning a Group 1 event in each of the Australian mainland states.

And what made last night even more special was that he drove a classic race to steer the unfancied No Noney to a narrow but decisive win. Dark Eyes held the lead from the pole with the heavily backed Blaze On doing his fair share of work to eventually race outside the leader. No Noney from the inside of the second row followed up Dark Eyes and secured the trail behind the leader

Dark Eyes and Blaze On were locked together on the final bend but that was the point when Lewis moved No Noney off the rails and he came with a perfectly timed burst to edge out Blaze On by half a neck with Dark Eyes three metres away in third.

NO NONEY JUN 27 REPLAY

Trained by Shane Gaebler at Oakford, No Noney has been a model of consistency and has never been out of a place in his nine runs this year including two wins.

Then two races later Lewis was again in the winning circle when Miki Made Monty (Always B Miki) after having a comfortable one out and two back trail was able to outsprint his rivals to take out the 2130 metre pace.

Confidently supported into favouritism Miki Made Monty was allowed time to settle by Lewis and he quickly collared the leader Blue Blazer and then he comfortably held off En Pariant Sur and Fireplay.

Miki Made Monty is raced by her breeder prominent trainer driver Jocelyn Young who is currently in Queensland with her top mare Steno. However Mike Made Monty is trained by Chris Lewis’s wife Debra which made the win even more special.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink