Lebron Slam Dunks Rivals

30 September 2014 | Chris Barsby
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Target: Lebron will chase the Gr.3 $30,000 Be Good Johnny Sprint on October 11

Target: Lebron will chase the Gr.3 $30,000 Be Good Johnny Sprint on October 11 Photo by Dan Costello - Racing Wrap

Queensland speedster Lebron will tackle the Queensland spring features next month.

The Brian McCall trained open class performer produced a career best performance winning the Garrards Horse & Hound Pace last Saturday night at Albion Park in a time of 1;52.9.

But it was the manner in which he won which prompted connections to targets the riches on offer next month.

The nine-year-old gelding started from a second-line draw before racing three-wide over the final 1000m and then holding out Funny Boy and Drunken Desire in a thrilling finish.

Splits of 27.3, 30.4, 26.8 and 29.1.

“I have no doubt that was his best performance because everything was against him yet he showed how much he loves racing and in particular, speed racing. That was massive after sitting wide in a 26.8 back straight quarter and then holding out horses which had cold sits in the run, a monster mile.” McCall said.

The Gr.3 $30,000 Be Good Johnny Sprint on October 11 starts the Queensland spring carnival which also includes the Gr.2 $75,000 Gold Coast Cup (October 18) plus the opening leg of the new Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit season, the Gr.1 $200,000 Garrards Queensland Pacing Championship (October 25).

Lebron’s appetite for short course racing means his ultimate target is the Be Good Johnny Sprint which is staged over the 1660m before distances rise in the other features.

“The Be Good Johnny is our main target because we all know how much he loves mile racing; in fact, he won’t start again before that feature in a fortnight. Let’s just hope we can land a nice draw and not a second-line draw.

“The best open class horse here in Brisbane currently is Avonnova and he will be very competitive in anything he contests but I think we’re a show in the sprint if we draw well and got to the fence quickly. Unfortunately last year, we didn’t draw well so we might be overdue this time around.

“Being a typical speed horse, I don’t do a great deal with him between runs as he tends to take care of himself. Ross Croghan always told me that these types of horses look after themselves and he fits that bill, he’s been in the paddock since Saturday night.”

It was the 11th time that Lebron has combined with reinsman Pete McMullen for a victory and McCall is adamant that the pair have a special bond.

“Yeah, they just click and they’re a great team together. Pete has the ability to get him off the gate better than anybody else and gets him to lift in the stretch.

“That’s with no disrespect to any other drivers that have driven him and even Rob Gorman told me that Pete gets the best out of him.”

The big three – horse, trainer and driver.

 

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