Fresh off training four winners over the Grafton July Carnival, Stephen Lee‘s stable kept up its incredible form at Lismore on Friday, with the Ballina trainer preparing three winners on the nine-race program.
Lee combined with Les Tilley for more success as Watchguard ($4.60) won the 1110m Maiden Plate, and Showman ($3.40) took out the 1526m Class One Handicap.
Lee also teamed up with talented apprentice Jai Williams, who guided Chickerartie ($6.50) to victory in the 1210m fillies and mares Benchmark 58 Handicap.
A lot needs to go right to train a treble on any program, and Lee said he was confident of a good day at Lismore but admitted that a treble was beyond his pre-meeting expectations.
“I thought we had some good chances, and the stable has been going well,” Lee said.
“Watchguard was going good, but I thought I had been a bit easy on him being a two-year-old and wasn’t sure if he would be fit enough, and Chickerartie was a bit unlucky last start, and had to be ridden a bit upside down, and we were sure she would improve a lot.
“Showman was coming back in class, and I thought he was our best chance for the day, so I was confident leading into his race with two winners.”
Lee was understandably on top of the world, with his stable one of the most successful during the always-competitive Grafton July Carnival.
“We have won a South Grafton Cup before, but this year was by far our best carnival,” Lee said.
“It’s always hard to win over the carnival because it can be very strong, and you’re normally happy if you get a winner or two, but to get four was great.”
Lee’s stable has enjoyed an excellent recent run of form and an outstanding season by his lofty standards.
Bringing up 42 winners in 2022/23 – his best result in years – Lee has brought up his winners at a career-best 15.3% win rate, while for the first time, his stable has won more than $1 million in a season.
“The prize money is so good, and it’s getting easier and easier,” Lee said.
“The horses are going well, and we’ve got winners from down on the beach and some from the track too.
“I couldn’t be happier with them, and we are getting some good stock, too, which makes a big difference.”
With 35 in work, Lee has 24 boxes at his property near Seven Mile Beach and another 12 on track, and he explained that he can mix it up to suit any horse and its preferences.
“The young ones go into town for education but come back out and get more education on the beach, and it does them a world of good,” Lee said.
“At home, they go out into the paddock during the day, and it’s only a walk from the stables to the beach, and it’s helping them a lot.
“Still, the ones in town have been going well, and three of our winners over the Grafton carnival came out of the stables, so both are working.
“Even the ones on track, when they race, they’ll come to the farm for four days, and then they go back, and it keeps them fresh, and they get their head down, chew on the grass, and live a more natural life.
“Then there are some here, and they never leave the paddock, and we’ve got stables in the paddock as well and train them out of there.”
Lee has been around the block a few times, having won the Group Three Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) with Anton En Avant in 2018, while over the years, he’s had Group Two, Group Three, and Listed placegetters.
On 796 career winners, Lee is nearing another significant milestone, and his team is going from strength-to-strength with new owners joining the stable, meaning he has some handy horses coming through.
“We have trained a few city winners this year, and when you throw that in with all the country winners, it’s a good year,” Lee said.
“We are hoping to venture down with a Highway race for Showman, and we’ll try and dabble in those races a bit more.
“Plus, Ontrack Syndicates have given us four horses, and they are great to train for, and Grant Morgan is a really easy bloke to deal with.
“We hope to pick up a few Highways for them, and Chickerartie has won four races for them, and Nickelback is a nice horse, and he is eligible for a Highway.”
It’s a busy time of year in the Northern Rivers and Mid-North Coast, with the Coffs Harbour carnival kicking off with Sunday’s Sawtell Cup and Trevor Hardy Sprint meeting before racing heads to Ballina on Thursday.
Lee has horses galore entered at both meetings, and he hopes his stable can continue its stellar run.
“We hit a lull just before Grafton, and it goes quiet, but now we go and start to ramp it up, and there will be a lot of meetings, which is good.”
For all results from today’s meeting at Lismore, click here.
For Coffs Harbour fields on Sunday, click here.
For Ballina nominations on Thursday, click here.
