BENDIGO reinsman Rod Lakey has described his successful comeback to racing after a 14-year absence as one of his most satisfying nights ever in harness racing.
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The 44-year-old capped a special night at Lord's Raceway on Friday with a win with his fourth and final steer of the night aboard the Shaun McNaulty-trained Gobsmacked.
He finished the night with the neat record of a win and two thirds from his four drives.
Lakey said as far as comebacks went, he could not have dreamed of a better one.
"It was easily one of my best nights of harness racing," he said.
"I said that to my parents and they were like 'really?' 'You've driven in derbies and other big races', but just the way it went down.
"We thought we could get a winner and we got to the last horse and hadn't got one. We were saturated, working in torrential rain all night. But we went out with the longest odds of the four horses and it's ended up winning.
"It was just a very special night, and because it was my first night back, there were people well-wishing me everywhere.
"It's one of those nights why you get into harness racing. There was a group of people involved in a horse, things go to plan and it wins - there's just no feeling like it. It was a great night."
Unplaced only once in his previous 11 starts, Gobsmacked's long odds of $43.20 were a surprise.
Lakey was able to assume the lead early in the race and diligently retained control of the contest aboard the four-year-old gelding to stave off the gallant efforts of the Keith Cotchin-trained Brackenreid and Glenn Douglas-trained and driven Torrid Saint.
The comeback reinsman was quick to fully credit the gelding's young trainer for the success.
"At the end of the day, the driver is a very small part of the equation, most of it is getting on the right horse and Gobsmacked was certainly the right horse on the day," Lakey said.
"That comes back to Shauny, he always presents good horses, who are fit and well and can win, and he places them well
"You know if you are driving for Shaun, you are on a horse that can win.
"He is just very good at what he does and it's why he is starting to grow his owners and the size of his stable.
"I'm getting the accolades for a comeback, but at the end of the day it comes down to the horse and Shaun as a trainer and I'm very thankful to him for giving me the opportunity."
It's one of those nights why you get into harness racing. There was a group of people involved in a horse, things go to plan and it wins - there's just no feeling like it.
- Rod Lakey
A productive first night back, which included a pair of thirds on the McNaulty-trained Hashtag in the feature race won by Vandanta and Stateswoman, has Lakey eagerly looking forward to his next outing this Thursday night at Bendigo.
He currently has three drives, including Gobsmacked, who is backing up after Friday's win.
Lakey has also been booked to drive the Douglas-trained first-starter Treacherous Saint in the two-year-old pace and Spiders Devil for Carla Innes-Goodridge in a NR 56 to 67 trot, and hopes to secure a start in the three-year-old trot with the Ray Cross-trained Countess Chiron, who is an emergency.
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