Imperial Monarch completes the big double for Jason Lee

Bold striding trotter Imperial Monarch (Imperial Count) completed a wonderful night for the Lee stable when he outstayed harness racing favourite Rockinwithattitude in the Geelong McNamara Trotters Cup on Saturday night.

In doing so, the stable completed a double as in the Pacing Cup they were successful with Jilliby Nitro.

Coming off 20 metres in a seven horse field, driver Jason Lee went around the field to go past Meadow Valley Star.

IMPERIAL MONARCH 3 OCT REPLAY

David Miles on Rockinwithattitude off the backmark of 30 metres allowed the mare to catch the field and she eventually went around the field to face the breeze.

Imperial Monarch always seemed to be travelling comfortably and although Rockinwithattitude tried her heart out down the home straight she couldn’t catch Imperial Monarch who held on to win by just under three metres with Meadow Valley Star a close third.

Driver Jason Lee indicated that he was confident before the race with Imperial Monarch.

I just thought tonight this bloke does set really well. He didn’t have a heap of traffic in front of him and I thought this fella would be hard to catch if he got that run. But it’s always good in hindsight but it was just great that it worked out and he probably got a little breather after doing a bit of work early to get there and he was super. Obviously she (Rockinwithattitude) was good as well but we just got the better run tonight.

We probably had a little bit of a lean run. We’re still being winning races but haven’t been winning probably a lot of Metro races and it’s hard for 12 months of the year to keep the really good ones up and going racing at the elite level and these two horses really suit the long trip and it’s just a credit to Marg and Patty.

And obviously we’ve got a great team at home and wouldn’t be able to do it without them. You get to see the the couple of minutes here at the races but the work that our staff put in and the family put in it’s a massive team effort and I just couldn’t thank them enough.

Me brother Jack and his wife Laura own him. I’m pretty sure they’ll be happy to push on and go and have a crack (at the upcoming Bill Collins Mile at Melton on 17 October). He’s always been a really nice horse and been up to the good ones. He just probably needs everything to go his way and when there’s some superstars around, it’s a little tough to beat them. But, on his night he’s pretty smart.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink