Trots Centre: Big watch on Leanne as Bob having gem of a time

Bob Kuchenmeister’s success in the Catanach’s Jewellers Gem of the Week has come at a great time, with the 80-year-old horseman desperately in need of a new watch.

The Inverleigh-based trainer-driver’s steer on his beloved trotter Leanne Leeann at Geelong on November 11 earned him the nod from Facebook voters, but he was quick to pour cold water on his efforts in the sulky.

“I can’t see why that was the drive of the night – it was a bit of luck,” he said with a laugh.

“The only skill to it was that I was following David Murphy (Fox Force Five) out and I thought he’d go forward. This mare, if she was balanced I’d go with her and if not, I’d back her up.

“Well, she was balanced so I went with her, I followed Murph around and he found a hole somewhere.

“I was sitting up three-wide in the first quarter, I’m looking across and the leader is only a length-and-a-half in front of me and I thought: I can kill this down the back. And it was as easy as that.”

After finding the front, Leanne Leeann led the rest of the journey to land her second-straight win and third overall in a career that is going from strength to strength.

Formerly worked by Michael Cole when a bit of a menace, Kuchenmeister took over training the daughter of Danny Bouchea when still a maiden and has turned his project horse into a more calm and collected individual. And, most importantly, a winner.

“It’s just time. (Mick)’s a very good trainer, but he works 10 horses and has got a very big business and he’s got to look after that too,” said Kuchenmeister, who trains Leanne Leeann for neighbours and new owners Brooke Sadler and her mother Jan McLennan.

“Nowadays I don’t let anybody drive this horse but me at home or even at the races now. We get along, she knows my voice. We have muffs on her ears, but I’ve only got to raise my voice a little bit to tell her something and she understands the words almost. I think she speaks English, I’m not sure.”

Kuchenmeister will need to weave his magic once again at Geelong this evening if he’s to overcome what he believes is a tricky draw in the standing start Yabby Dam Racing Trotters Handicap (2570m).

“Off the pole might throw her I think. She’s not fast out early from the stand,” he said.

“Unless you lead, and I don’t think she can do that, you need a lot of luck. You have got to get to the sprint lane behind the leader or you’ve got to be able to get out somewhere from the bell onwards. So who knows?”

Kuchenmeister will also take stablemate Wingman Fling to the races this evening, where he will resume from a spell in the 93.9 Bay FM Trot (2100m).

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