Jilliby Nitro in last gasp Geelong Cup win

Evergreen pacer Jilliby Nitro (Bettors Delight) upset the more fancied candidates with a barnstorming finish to take out the $20,000 Apco Geelong Pacing Cup on Friday evening.

A disappointing field of only six accepted for the event and Mach Dan who had previously won two Geelong Cups was installed favourite ahead of his stablemate Oliver Dan and the much improved Smokin Ace.

JILLIBY NITRO 13 MAR REPLAY

Smokin Ace mustered great speed from the pole draw and shortly after the field settled Oliver Dan went around the field to give Mach Dan the one out and one back sit. Jilliby Nitro was poised right behind Mach Dan.

Mach Dan unleashed his run in the back straight on the final occasion three wide as Smokin Ace sped the temp up with a third quarter in 27.1 seconds. Mach Dan quickly gathered the leaders as Lochie Cook on Jilliby Nitro for a moment looked for an inside run.

But once he pulled out he sprinted quickly to edge out Mach Dan by half a neck with Smokin Ace holding on for third placing five metres away. Jilliby Nitro returned a winning mile rate of 1.56.7 for the 2570 metre trip.

As a two year old Jilliby Nitro swept all before him including the Bathurst Gold Crown and the Albion Park APG two year old colts and geldings final as well as a semi final of the New South Wales Breeders challenge. Eventually he worked his way into open class and for a while was in the Peter Rixon stable until he returned back to the Lee camp at the end of 2024. He’s owned by the Levarg Racing Group.

Lochie Cook who’s been with the Lee stable for a number of years and started his career at around the same time as Jilliby Nitro reminisced on his fortunes.

It’s a bit of a shock, I know he’s a great horse but he got the right trip tonight. Even at the top (of the home straight) I didn’t know what to do, I was going for the inside then there wasn’t really room there. So lucky enough he pulled to the outside and the old boy finished off strong.

We’ve all drove him pretty mad at times but I think he goes best with a sit like that. But the horse he’s raced a million times and he keeps showing up. It’s great to drive him and it’s a real privilege to drive a good horse like this one.

I’ve been at the Lees ever since he was a two year old. And we’ve probably been together racing the whole time because he doesn’t stop.

It turned out to be a memorable evening for Cook and the Lee stable.

Earlier in the evening they took out the Evolution Lodge McNamara Memorial Geelong Trotters cup with tough stayer Imperial Monarch (Imperial Count) who come off 10 metres for a strong staying performance when driven by Jason Lee.

Then later on Keayang Sweetheart (Always B Miki) and raced by Marg Lee just held on to win the Green Space Storage Space Heat over hot favourite The Art Of Success to give Lochie Cook a winning double.

For complete Geelong race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink