Trainer Michael Lakey won’t be looking for any special recognition if promising mare Risk Aversion completes a winning hat-trick at Doomben.
Risk Aversion will be ridden by Ric McMahon in Saturday’s The Pink Ribbon Race For Research Quality (1350m).
Lakey, 44, goes about his business quietly, the trademark of his two former bosses, Deagon trainer Geoff Burns and his late brother Des Burns who was a successful trainer for many years at Dalby on Queensland’s Darling Downs.
“I used to be a jockey and worked for both Des and Geoff Burns,” Lakey said.
“When I rode for Des I knew I was always on a good horse.”
One of Des Burns’ biggest wins was with Sea Cabin in the 1988 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
Lakey began training at Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, in 1998 before moving to Deagon nine years ago.
During his career Lakey has prepared several useful sprinters but is still looking for a big-race victory.
“Two of my best horses were Uncle Shamos which won a (Listed) Goldmarket at the Gold Coast and Butch Weston which won 10 races and was good enough to go to Sydney,” Lakey said.
“Butch Weston was placed in the Listed Carrington Stakes at Warwick Farm (in 2001).”
Lakey is hopeful Risk Aversion could be the horse to take him to the top if the mare’s connections get their wish.
The four-year-old is owned by Gold Coast businessman John Hutchins who is keen to target next year’s Group One Coolmore Classic in Sydney if she measures up.
Hutchins’ former star Typhoon Tracy won the Coolmore Classic in 2009 for trainer Peter Moody.
Lakey has had to treat Risk Aversion with kid gloves since the mare developed suspensory problems early in her career.
She has only started four times for three wins, including her last victory over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on September 3, and a close second.
Lakey is confident Risk Aversion will handle another step up in grade and her first attempt past 1200 metres.
“She took a while to get over her last run but she’s bounced back well and is up on her toes again,” Lakey said.
“She’s only an ordinary eater and this is a step up again for her but she should run well in the small field.
“I’ll probably give her 10 days out in the paddock after this and bring her back for some black-type races coming up here later on.”
AAP TURF
