Lee stable cracks the Code

The Lee stable looks to have cracked the Code on a very promising horse and are taking plenty along for the ride, with connections now proud Garrards Horse & Hound Bendigo Pacing Cup winners and more silverware appears on the horizon.

Code Bailey put in an dominant performance in the Trots Country Cups Championship leg, his all-the-way win thrilling trainer Marg Lee and reinsman Jason Lee, who saw potential transform into a coveted prize in the 2760-metre Group 2 feature.

“That was awesome. That was unbelievable,” Marg Lee told TrotsVision post-race. “Got hammered in front and run away from them. He’s an awesome horse, he’s a beautiful looking animal and it’s proven now what we thought he was. He’s really hitting his straps.”

Jason Lee held off early threats from The Storm Inside, Tam Major and San Carlo as a 74-second lead time was followed by even first and second quarters before an electric burst home, with Code Bailey careering away in a 55-second last half mile.

That would see him stop the clock in a track record 1:54.9 mile rate.

“I wanted to lead,” Jason Lee told TrotsVision. “We wanted to find out if (he could do) what we thought he could do, he showed us that he is as good we thought he was. To beat that field, that’s just awesome.”

A big team was on hand to celebrate the success, including Brisbane Lions teammates Darcy Gardiner and Lewis Taylor, who accepted the prize from HRV Chairman Dale Monteith.

“A lot of hard work goes into the final part,” Taylor told the Bendigo crowd. “Great family, I’ve been lucky enough to work with these guys and know everyone here for a long amount of time now, it was a great night and great watch.”

The duo share ownership with Levarg Racing Group and Marg, Keiran and Annette Lee, plus 19-year-old Terang stablehand Lochie Cook, with the latter gifted a share in reward for his great work ethic since joining the Lee stable.

He shared his story with Paul Campbell post-race.

“I had nothing to do with horses and just started working out at the Terang trotting club in the numbers room for a few years. When I was in year 12 I became friendly with Paddy (Lee) and Jase and Glen (Craven) and they offered me a job out there. I went out there after school and started working,” Cook said.

“Year 12 finished and I started working out there during my holidays and just got a full-time job there from Marg. After a bit of hard work and a bit of long hours Jason gave me a share in Code Bailey, I was very grateful (and) appreciate how much he’s done for me.”

The good times may well continue, with Code Bailey expected to next step out in the PETstock Ballarat Cup en route to a likely tilt at Victoria’s rich Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup.

HRV Trots Media