WHEN driver Jason Lee saw he'd selected number eight at the barrier draw for the Bathurst Gold Crown Final, he wanted to go home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fortunately he didn't.
He put that disappointment behind him and went on to drive Jilliby Nitro to victory in the $100,000 Group 1 Final on Friday night.
He did it in impressive fashion too - making a bold decision to push for the lead early at the Bathurst Gold Crown Paceway before the star colt won in a class record 1:53.8 mile rate for the 1,730m trip.
Lee was certainly a much happier man than he had been at the draw on Monday evening as he accepted his Gold Crown trophy.
"Initially after the draw I was a little disappointed, I sort of wanted to pack up and go home. But you've got to kick yourself in the arse and get over it," he said.
"I sent my uncle a message to say I'd drawn eight and said don't get me to do a barrier draw again. But he said, 'Don't worry, he'll be in front by the final turn'. His confidence was good.
"You get over it, you move on. I've driven in a few big races now and have been lucky enough to win a few, it's no good stressing about it until the race comes.
"I was still a little bit nervous, but I reckon that's good. Once I was out there it was game face on and try to do my job."
READ MORE: McDowells enjoy a brilliant Gold Tiara win
READ MORE: Lochinvar Art dominates Gold Chalice Final
It was a job he and the star Bettors Delight x Kiewa Valley colt trained at Terang by Margaret Lee did well.
Despite going from eight, that Jilliby Nitro was the fastest qualifier for the final and had won his heat by 21.6m saw him backed into $1.70 favouritism.
Lee capitalised on Jilliby Nitro's gate speed once the green light was given, urging the colt on to cross and take the lead.
Once in front, the favourite blazed through the first quarter in a 27.4 split.
As the bell sounded for a lap to go, Lee looked over his shoulder. He saw Mach Dan in the trail behind him and local hope Mistery Road punching forward.
Mistery Road eye-balled Jilliby Nitro down the back straight before fading, while into the home turn Mach Dan shaped as the biggest threat to the favourite.
Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here
But Jilliby Nitro was too good when it mattered, winning by 4.1m over $151 outsider Percy Bailey (Will Rixon). Mach Dan ($4.40, Amanda Turnbull) was a head back in third.
It was a performance which impressed the spectators, but Lee admitted he knew Jilliby Nitro had the potential to produce such an effort.
"To be honest I did think that he was really good, but I don't like to spruke them up too much, I prefer to let your horse do the talking and obviously tonight he did," he said.
"A lot of credit has got to go to him, he's just a great little race horse. I just sat there and steered him and he did all the rest."
