Jilliby Nitro completed a hat trick of country cup wins in the past month after he stormed home to take out the CA Fitness Mildura Pacing Cup on Saturday night.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the nine-year-old son of Bettors Delight.
Driver Lochie Cook was forced to take evasive action for Jilliby Nitro to stay on his feet after copping the backwash of interference on the first turn before settling down towards the rear of the field.
Despite giving the leaders a tidy start, Jilliby Nitro latched onto the back of Fox Dan for a three wide tow into the race down the back before Cook pulled out four wide approaching the home turn.
Once straightened, Jilliby Nitro ($8.50) produced his customary powerful finale to score running away by five metres from Fox Dan in a mile rate of 1:57.4.
“This horse has been flying and it’s good to get some wins to his name,” Cook said.
“These long distance races are his go, he probably looks a bit average in the sprint races over 2200 metre races at Melton but once he gets in these country cups he just keeps on running,” he said.
Cook said the winner recovered well after the early race interference.
“We obviously got knocked over at the start but in the run he felt really really good which gave me lots of confidence and we got just a beautiful trip down the back on Fox Dan and pulled out at the 200 metre mark and he just kept on going,” he said.
The 25-year-old Cook acknowledged the boost Jilliby Nitro has given to his career in the sulky.
“He’s brought me to these sorts of tracks and the big races where you want to be and I’m very thankful to the four uncles and Marg (Lee) for giving me this horse to drive and win lose or draw they keep putting me back on,” he said.
The win capped off a memorable 24 hours for Team Lee who were in New Zealand celebrating their superstar Keayang Zahara’s win the previous night in the $NZ530,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge.
The Ros Rolfe trained and driven Dallas Miki continued his recent stellar form when he outstayed his rivals in the McDonalds Mildura Pace Final.
Sent out a $1.75 favorite, Dallas Miki was hampered shortly after the start by the galloping Priddy Carson and Rolfe set about catching the tearaway leader Watchtheclock who set a torrid pace in front.
In a survival of the fittest, Dallas Miki headed the leader on the home turn and held on to score by two metres from the fast finishing To The Nines in a mile rate of 1:56.8.
“I had to work hard after getting a bit of interference which set us back, so he’s gone fabulous,” Rolfe said.
“There was a fair bit of chasing involved but we got there in the end,” she said.
The seven-year-old son of Always B Miki has now won four of his past five starts.
“He’s been working beautifully and I think he’s matured a lot,” she said.
IMAGE: Jo Morrish Photography
