Young gun driver Lochie Cook finds recipe to harness success

Just a year ago Lochie Cook was handing out saddlecloth numbers to his idols, now he is driving against them in Group 1 races.

Lochie Cook drives Jillibyjacksparrow to victory at Melton. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Just a year ago Lochie Cook was handing out saddlecloth numbers to his idols, now he is driving against them in Group 1 races.

Cook spent a couple of years as a helper at the Terang track on race nights where he built a friendship with the region’s hugely successful Lee and Craven clan.

“I was a 16-year-old at school and my first job was helping the old legend there, ‘Max’, hand out the race numbers,” Cook recalled. “Over time I became friends with Paddy (Lee), Jason (Lee) and Glen (Craven) and it led to me helping on their farm (with cows and horses) around school hours.

“When I turned 18 and got my licence, I was doing my year 12 exams, but all I could think about was getting back to the farm. That’s where my passion was, especially the horses.”

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Cook, now 24, quickly got his licence to drive at the trials and was competing in races 12 months later.

From three wins in his first season (2019/20), Cook has soared to 56 wins so far this season, which snared him his first spot in Victoria’s eight-race Young Guns series – for drivers under 25 – at Melton on New Year’s Eve.

“Driving was always my top wish because I’d looked up to Jase (Lee) and Glen (Craven) so much, so it’s cool to get so many opportunities now and it’s all thanks to them,” Cook said.

Gun young driver Lochie Cook. Picture: Stuart McCormick

“But it goes deeper, they (Lees and Cravens) look after me so well and treat me like family.

“I just missed a spot (in the Young Guns) last year and I was pretty dirty. I think I was ninth on the list and only the top eight made it, but it’s such a buzz being part of it this time.”

It caps what Cook describes as “the most unbelievable” finish to 2024.

Just a few weeks ago, Cook was plucked from relative obscurity to drive one of the Lee clan’s three finalists, Keayang Stuka, in the iconic Inter Dominion trotting final at Menangle.

And he ran booming third as a $61 outsider.

“There’s that support again from the family. The trust and loyalty they showed to give me that drive was incredible,” Cook said.

“I had the greatest week in the build-up, just taking it all in and getting into the buzz. Then for ‘Stuka’ to come out and run such a huge race to finish third, that was a real ‘wowee’ moment.”

Lochie Cook on Keayang Stuka. Picture: Courtesy HRNSW

Wowee is a word Cook admits he has used a bit recently, but mainly in relation to the Lee/Craven camp’s new superstar, unbeaten three-year-old trotting filly Keayang Zahara.

“She really is something else and having her just lights the whole place up down here. Let’s hope she goes on with after her break, not just for us, but for the whole sport, given the following she’s quickly grown,” he said.

Has Cook experienced her talent first-hand in the sulky?

“Haha. In the very early days, before she raced, I’d jogged her, but now Jase (Lee) won’t let anyone near her in fast work,” he said.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as Young gun driver Lochie Cook finds recipe to harness success