Ballina trainer Jordan Lee has relished a 12-month period to remember, with the 25-year-old asserting himself as one of the up-and-coming stars in the Australian training ranks.
The son of Ballina trainer and Northern Rivers legend, Stephen Lee, who has recorded 860 career victories, Jordan Lee only commenced his training endeavour in late 2024.
After preparing his first winner in February of last year, when Eagle Hawk Star won a Benchmark 66 Handicap at Lismore, Jordan Lee would never have imagined the success he would enjoy over the coming year.
He prepared an incredible 23 winners, landing victories on both sides of the border as he won races at Murwillumbah (6), Ballina (5), Grafton (4), Rockhampton (3), Mackay (2), Lismore, Gatton, Scone, and Royal Randwick.
The young trainer even tasted metropolitan success – the first of his burgeoning career – as Lovewillcomelater (Nash Rawiller, $21) won via protest in the Class Three (1400m) Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick on Golden Eagle Race Day.
“Whenever you’re winning, you’re happy,” Lee quipped when interviewed by Country Punter’s Jeff Hanson.
“I couldn’t ask for a better 12 months; to go from my first win to my first treble to a metro winner; it’s all happened pretty quickly.
“A lot of people have taken a lot longer to get their first win, so I’m really happy to have a good start, but I’m more excited about what’s to come.”
Racing at Murwillumbah on August 28, Lee enjoyed arguably his finest moment, taking just three horses to the races as Gavin (Leah Martyn, $4.20), Lovewillcomelater (Bella Youngberry, $2.40), and Caracoron (Jake Bayliss, $3.70) saluted.
“That was a big moment,” Lee said.
“To have three runners at Murwillumbah on cup day and win with all three is really special.
“That, and winning with Lovewillcomelater at Randwick, even though it was by protest, are the biggest moments of my career.”
Having learnt the ropes under his father’s tutelage, Jordan was quick to explain that it was a team effort.
“I’ve got a massive team behind me, and it’s good; we’re all young and having a go,” Lee said.
“My dad has two young apprentices (Siabh Rigley and Georgia O’Connor) and they do a lot of work, and I have a foreman, Jordan Miller, who’s a big asset of mine and dad’s team.”
Jordan Lee continued where he left off in 2025, preparing a winner at Ballina on Friday as Immortality (Dylan Turner, $19) won the Class Three Handicap (1015m) while stablemate Eagle Hawk Star (Amelia Heinrich, $7) ran third in the same event.
“There are a lot of horses that went for a spell after our good run, so it’s hard to keep the ball rolling when horses have to go to the paddock,” Lee said.
“So, to see him (Immortality) come back and win first up, it was a good result and hopefully a sign of things to come.”
Lee will be back at the races this week, with the likes of Eagle Hawk Star, Monarch Express, and Labarana entered to race at Ballina on Friday, while Barello and Yukanuma have been entered in races north of the border at Doomben on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.
