Plucked out of the saddlecloth room at Terang trots eight years ago, talented young horseman Lochie Cook’s career takes another exciting twist this week.
The 26-year-old became a key part of the Lee/Craven juggernaut and drove 236 winners since being enticed to work for the stable by Paddy Lee back in 2018.
Thursday night at Ballarat signals the start of new chapter for Cook as stable foreman for decorated horseman Geoff Webster at his Bannockburn stables.
Cook drives one of Webster’s best horses, exciting two-year-old Baystyle, in the Durham Park Rising Star 2YO (1710m).
Victory in the race would snare Baystyle, who boasts three wins and a second from just four starts, a slot and golden ticket into Austraslasia’s richest juvenile race, the $500,000 Group 1 Protostar at Albion Park on July 11.
“I don’t officially start with Geoff until next Monday, so it’s a good show of faith for him to give me the drive on a horse like this now,” Cook said.
“I’ve watched his replays and he’s obviously a nice horse, but this is a strong race and certainly his biggest test so far against some really nice two-year-olds.”
The powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable holds a huge hand in the race with four runners: Kahula (gate one), Comeandsee (two), Some High (five) and Cardigan Sniper (seven).
Stewart and Tonkin trained the first four placegetters in the race last year with Cardigan Dan beating Loucasso.
Cook said he was leaving Marg and Paddy Lee’s Terang stables with mixed emotions.
“I owe them everything,” he said. “I went from chatting with them when I was handing out the numbers at Terang from 16 to 18, to working for them and learning everything I know about the game, including how to drive.
“I’ll be forever indebted to Marg, Paddy, Jason and the Uncles in the family, who help make it all happen.
“It’s been amazing to be part of it and see how the operation has grown into two new tracks, two treadmills, a water walker a dam and all those good horses they’ve got. They deserve all the success they get.”
Cook said his highlights with Team Lee included driving Keayang Stuka to finish third in the 2024 Inter Dominion trotting final and winning the Terang Cup earlier this year on Jilliby Nitro.
“You could throw in winning a race on Code Bailey at Melton, too, because he was such a stable favourite and special horse,” he said.
Cook has also had a front row seat and played his role in the rise and rise of champion trotting mare Keayangt Zahara.
“She’s just something else, isn’t she,” he said.
“I’ve done my bit with her and even had the occasional drive, although it’s pretty hard getting on her now. Everybody loves her and for good reason.”
