A RISK paid off for Childers Cove harness racing trainer Angela McDowall.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
McDowall teamed with Terang driver Jason Lee to win the Australian Pacing Gold final with Lumineer in Sydney on Saturday night.
The group one victory was a career-high for McDowall – a dairy farmer who has three horses in work.
“We were hoping after the heats that he’d be competitive,” she said of the two-year-old colts and fillies race.
“He won his heat at Melton three weeks ago and based on that performance we were optimistic he’d be competitive.
“But it was up in Sydney and he’d have to travel well and it’s obviously a step up in class.
“It is a bit of a risk with a horse so young to travel interstate.”
McDowall said Lee took the lead from barrier five and dictated terms in the 1609-metre race.
Lumineer defeated Stefsbest and Jilliby Lorenzo – trained by Lee’s mother Marg and with Glen Craven in the sulky – in the final.
“This is my first group one win, so I am absolutely stoked,” she said.
“The horse has spent time in Lady Bay swimming there.
“He’s kept improving and that’s why we decided to make the trip to Sydney to try our luck against top horses.”
McDowall, who said harness racing was a family affair, could take Lumineer to New Zealand after he was invited to run in an invite-only race.
“We’ll get him home and settle him down first,” she said.