Gordon and Colin Lee are closing in on a milestone they didn't consider relevant in the past.
The win of Magnate Mara at Invercargill on Saturday was their 15th for the season and took them to within one of the highest seasonal tally of their father
Ernest 'Hori' Lee, 16 in the1989-90 term.
Both sons played a part in that total with Colin winning two on Scapa Chip, including the group three New Zealand Mares Championship. Gordon's wins were Keyali and French Lustre (three each), Popsicle, Mighty Lustre and Jimmy Dundee (two each), After Match and Rainbow Taurus.
Although training in partnership at Wyndham since 1998, winning races hasn't been Gordon and Colin's only priority. The brothers have never failed to get at least one every season but selling, particularly to Australia, has been a big part of their operation. Changes to Harness Racing Australia's import fees put a real dent in that.
“We used to get up to three calls a week asking for horses or what we had coming along, not now,” said Gordon, who with Colin was the first trainer of 2013 Miracle Mile winner Baby Bling.
Fifteen wins in a season is their best ever and represents one for every six starts. The winning began at Wyndham in November when, following open heart surgery and receipt of a new heart valve, Colin returned to the sulky on raceday to guide Jimmy Nga to victory. Jackofdiamonds, in the hands of Lance Justice on Trans Tasman Drivers Challenge day was next, with Gordon on board for the 13 that followed.
The biggest contribution was made by brilliant filly Seaswift Joy who won six times, added a second and three thirds and grossed more than $40,000 from her 11 starts. Of their ten starters, nine were winners.
“Lovey Dovey Moment is the only one that raced this season that hasn't won,” said Gordon, “he got a virus and filling in his legs, I'm quite confident he could have won otherwise.”
Saturday's winner Magnate Mara, bred and raced by Brian Church and Lee's wife Betty, is the second foal out of Lavish Bromac. Lee reported the unraced mare split a pastern and attempts to fix it unsuccessful.
“She would have been okay and this one (Magnate Mara) is not a bad horse.”
