Lezeanne Forbes leads Nitro Nori in with Alec in the saddle
There had definitely been no ‘planning or forethought’ in the fabulous Father’s Day double saddled by trainer Lezeanne Forbes for her owner-father Chris Fenwick at Scottsville on Sunday. It was a first raceday winning double for the yard and a joyous moment all round.
Luyola Mxothwa rode a pearler to win the fifth race on Peace Again (14-1) and then Lezeanne’s jockey husband Alec made it a grand family affair when he won the very next race on the 7yo Nitro Nori (12-1).
The Summerveld-based Lezeanne has come on leaps and bounds since taking out her licence in September 2013 and has built her string up steadily to 33 horses.
The winners are certainly coming regularly and she is happy with her youngsters, describing some of them as ‘exciting.’
On whether she had laid on the special ‘treat’ for her Dad, she was adamant that it had just been a happy coincidence.
“The irony is that I actually phoned my Dad on Sunday 14 June (a week early) to wish him and then realised that I had the date wrong. So, while I place and programme my horses carefully, the fact that they happened to win on Father’s Day, is a pure coincidence – but a huge thrill, nevertheless,” she told the Sporting Post in an exclusive interview.
Lezeanne has a good mix of loyal owners and proudly said that her Dad, Chris Fenwick, had been one of her first supporters.
“My Dad lives in Jeffries Bay and so he sadly wasn’t there on Sunday to lead them in. I also have some very well-known names like John Jones, Roy Moodley and Rob Knuppe, amongst others. But I treat every one of my patrons, big and small, like gold.”
Alec Forbes steers Nitro Nori to win
As to why her hubby Alec had not also ridden Peace Again, Lezeanne provided some fascinating insight as to how this professional trainer-jockey marriage and business operates.
“I try and give the guys that ride my work a decent chance to race ride. And if I am going to engage Alec for a particular ride, I work through his agent, Rob Champion. Alec and I obviously discuss a lot of racing related things and share views and opinions. But Alec has his job and I have mine!” she said firmly.
She added that Peace Again’s victory had been a particularly emotional one for her as she had owned her dam.
Her Dad leased the Ashaawes filly from her breeder Jonathan Connellan of Just-In Stud, who bred her.
“At the 200m marker I thought she had a chance to run third and I would have been thrilled with that. But then she took off and got there. It was a great win from that draw. And it is special for me as I have an emotional connection to the family as I owned her dam Hermana, who was sold to Jonathan. I bred Peace Again’s full brother Cavalar, who was quite decent. Sadly he got hurt. When Peace Again hit the line, I couldn’t believe it. I just froze. What a moment!” she said happily.
In a province that is particularly strong in producing top Lady trainers – here we think back over the years and to the present and of the likes of Anne Upton, Eileen Bestel, her daughter Corinne Bestel and Alyson Wright – Lezeanne certainly has the pedigree and experience to go all the way.
She worked overseas for Australian trainer Anthony Cummings for two years and has done her time locally and gained good grounding and experience with the likes of Yvette Bremner in PE, and a variety of yards in KZN.
