Mark Pitt drives Gumdrops to victory in the Make Mine Cullen.
Mark Pitt and Jason Lee remain neck-and-neck in the race to the Alabar Concession Drivers’ Premiership, swapping the lead at every turn.
The pair are locked together on 96 wins, with Terang reinsman Lee having produced 22 more placings and amassed about $15,000 more in stakes, while Pitt’s haul has come from just 366 starts, 132 less than Lee.
While Lee is no stranger to the award, having won it last year, Pitt’s emergence this season has been notable.
With more than a month to play, Pitt has transformed his 30 more nationwide drives than in 2014-15 into 50 more wins and $300,000 more stakes.
“I have had a lot more winners this season,” Pitt said. “You have got to put your name out and once you get those opportunities there is a bit of pressure on to take them.”
Pitt said opportunities from trainers Wayne Potter and Emma Stewart had been essential to his success, providing Group level drives and faith he was keen to reward.
“There is a lot of pressure on when driving for these trainers, because there are a lot of good drivers out there,” he said.
With five drives at Shepparton tonight he has the chance to pinch the lead, but he is keeping the concession premiership race to one side at this stage.
“I keep a little bit of an eye on it, but don’t worry too much because there’s enough pressure without putting that on myself as well.”
Lee and Pitt’s rivalry looks set to go down to the wire, as does the pursuit of the SBG Accountants Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership, where none of the top three improved their standings last Saturday.
Gavin Lang, after a momentous Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series, remains on top on 40 wins, four clear of Chris Alford and six clear of Greg Sugars.
Lang will take the reins of four horses at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night, including Charming Lavra in the Harness Breeders Victoria Lightfoot Laurels and Kingofthestars in the VHRSC The Graduate, with the latter tipped on top.
Alford has eight drives, including winning hopes Miracle in the Jaguem Chauffeur Vicbred Trot, Pepe Bromac in the Tarbcorp Park Melton Cup heat and Outrageous El in the Devenney Payne Taxation Series Claiming Pace.
And Sugars has six drives, with Lord Monaloo, Niki No No and Val Gardena among his winning hopes.
While the metro drivers’ premiership appears in the balance, Alford appears to have the Melton Saddlery State Drivers’ Premiership in his keeping, leading on 241 wins, some 38 clear of Sugars.
Similarly, Emma Stewart’s stables is in a commanding position in both the Renown Silverware State Trainers’ Premiership and the Taylors Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership, leading the former by 65 on 163 wins and the latter by 33 on 56 wins.
Art Major, from Alabar Farms, has the ascendancy ahead of Woodlands Stud’s Bettors Delight in the Sires Premiership, while Muscle Mass (2YO Sires), Courage Under Fire (3YO Sires) and Safely Kept (Broodmare Sires) lead their respective categories.
In the trotting ranks, Aldebaran Park stallion Skyvalley has emerged on top in both the Trotting Sires Premiership and Juvenile Trotting Sires Premiership, while Sundon’s legacy lives on with that late stallion leading the Trotting Broodmares Sires Premiership.
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Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)
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