Finn Mac Kee gives Tommy a lift

Veteran harness racing trainer Tommy Jackson was diagnosed with Cancer three years ago and even for a fleeting moment he thought his days were numbered.

But the battler from Magra regrouped and decided the best way to tackle the problem, other than medication, was to take a positive attitude and that included buying a horse and getting back into training as small team after taking a year off.

At UBET Park Hobart on Sunday night Jackson prepared Finn Mac Kee to win the Eric Reece Memorial, the horse he bought just before he was diagnosed with his illness.

It was Finn Mac Kee that kept him going and now he feels on top of the world and doing what he loves most.

"I believe Finn Mac Kee is a horse going places and who knows he might he the one I've been looking for all my life," Jackson said.

"When he first came to me he had his share of issues but I remained patient and now it's paying off," he said.

Finn Mac Kee was well driven by Paul Hill who was quick to act when one of the favourites Sparkling took off three-wide to attack for the lead but when he was unable to cross to the one-out line Finn Mac Kee had cover in the three-wide line for the last lap.

When Hill called on the Stonebridge Regal four-year-old gelding for the big effort in the home straight he sprinted clear and left his rivals in his wake.

Finn Mac Kee hit the line over eight metres clear of Witch Master with Alpinion almost a metre away third.

Jackson said Finn Mac Kee will head to the spelling paddock tomorrow for a six-week break.

Peter Staples