Sport
29 April, 2021
Group one awaits Lee, Jilliby Nitro
CONNECTIONS of Jilliby Nitro are hoping the promising pacer can rediscover the glittering form it produced as a two-year old colt.
CONNECTIONS of Jilliby Nitro are hoping the promising pacer can rediscover the glittering form it produced as a two-year old colt.
The Marg Lee-trained four year-old was a star on the track in its two year-old year, winning prestigious group one events including the Australian Pacing Gold and Gold Crown finals.
But an injury sustained in the Breeders Challenge in its last race of its two year-old campaign curtailed Jilliby Nitro’s early career.
Following a lengthy rehabilitation, the son of Bettors Delight has continued to run strongly in its recent campaign, finishing in the top three placings in all of its 16 career runs to date.
However, Jilliby Nitro has failed to win again on the biggest stage but connections are hoping their luck changes at Melton on Saturday night when he contests the $210,000 group one Australian
Pacing Gold final for four year-old entires and geldings on Saturday night.
Lee said connections were hopeful Jilliby Nitro could still capitalize on the potential it showed early in its career.
“After he ran third in the Breeders Challenge he needed a fair bit of time off for surgery so whether he comes back and find that form from his two year-old year, we’re hoping he can,” she said.
“He’s a striking black colt with a white face and is really eye-catching and he’s a good horse to have around the stable.
“If they were all as consistent and as good as he’s been we’d be pretty happy.”
While Lee is hoping for the pacer’s top form, she also knows it is going to be tough to match the quality of the field given it is a groupone event.
Son Jason will drive the horse for Lee.
“He’s drawn seven which is also going to make it really hard,” she said.
”Expensive Ego is running off the front and Mach Dan is on the second row so it’s going to be pretty hard but he’ll only benefit from his first up run.
“We would have liked to have had a couple more runs under his belt but it is also tougher when you’re stepping up into group one company,” she said.
“His first race back I was pretty happy so hopefully he can find himself in the money somewhere. You never know what could happen, he hasn’t been out of a place in his career so hopefully he won’t be too far away.”
Other horses set to head to Melton for Lee include Jilliby Chevy, Jilliby Lorenzo and Rollinjacksrainbow.
Jilliby Chevy is entered in a $24,000 pace and Jilliby Lorenzo will contest a $20,000 pace, while Rollinjacksrainbow will contest the $50,000 Australian Pacing Gold four year-old consolation group two event.
Fellow trainers Paddy Lee and Matthew Craven will also contest events at headquarters.
Paddy Lee will sulky up A Jewel In The Crown in a $20,000 trot, while Crime Writer will compete in a $20,000 pace for Craven.