In a sport blessed with an abundance of young talent, harness racing wound back the clock at Melton on Saturday night with a remarkable trifecta of octogenarians finishing the huge Summer of Glory meeting.
Leading the way was 82-year-old Geelong hobby trainer, limousine driver and popular horseman Bob Kutemeister, when he trained and drove trotting mare Leanne Leeann to win the last race.
The win came a staggering 45 years after Cake Masters drove a winner at the old Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.
AUTUMN CARNIVAL OFFER: UNLOCK EVERYTHING ON RACENET FOR $1
Cake Master drove the seven-year-old mare Leanne Leeann as she lifted to fend-off challengers and post her 10th career win by a half-head.
Those charging late at Cake Master and Leanne Leeann were Icicle, trained by 84-year-old Geoff Senior and Gaelic Lad, prepared by ‘youngster’ 80-year-old Terry Young.
Bob Cake Master winning on Leeane Leeann at Tabcorp Park Melton Saturday night. Picture: Stuart McCormick-racedayphotos.com.auSource: Supplied
But it was cake master who stole the honors by not only training Leanne Leeann but also driving the mare.
“It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” the chirpy cake master said when told of the result.
Cake Master has transcended three eras of harness racing in Victoria, driving winners at the Melbourne Showgrounds track and Moonee Valley before Melton became Victorian harness racing’s home.
“I don’t think there’s many of us left who can say they’ve done that, not when you get to my age,” TrotsVision told.
“I was 37 when I drove a winner at the Showgrounds.”
Cake master, who is well known around Geelong for his days as a taxi and limousine driver and great conversation, said his passion for horses kept him young and in game.
“But when you’re 82, you don’t bounce around like you did when you were 42,” he said.
Bob Cakemeister pictured with his old Chrysler and horse float. picture: Glenn FergusonSource: News Corp Australia
Cake Master thinks so much of Leanne Leeann he threw her against Australia’s best trotters in the Inter Dominion series late last year where she wasn’t disgraced and ran sixth in one of her three qualifying heats.
“It was good for her. That’s now two wins since she went around in the series,” he said.
“I think she’s got more wins in her, but she’ll need an easier run than having to do all the work like she did.
“That’s easier said than done because she’s got a mind of her own at times. I’m not the driver, she is.”
Bob Cakemaster with Leanne Leeann. Picture: Glenn FergusonSource: News Corp Australia
There was a lovely contrast earlier in the night when 17-year-old Abby Sanderson scored her biggest win with a huge upset aboard $101 outsider Catalpa Rescue in the $100,000 Caduceus 3YO Classic for her father, trainer Shane Sanderson.
Abby grabbed bragging rights over her older brother and top young driver Ryan Sanderson, who had plenty go wrong aboard buzz three-year-old and $1.15 favorite Dangerous before finishing sixth.
“I definitely won’t let Ryan forget this one,” Abby said.
* Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.