Queenslander’s happy homecoming

LAST night’s Albion Park meeting proved to be a happy homecoming for Leonard Cain.

Moving to New South Wales early last year, Cain is back in Queensland as caretaker of several pacers for leading trainer Craig Cross.

Cross’ crew were sent north to tackle the revamped Winter Carnival.

Also entrusted with the driving duties, Cain registered a treble from five drives.

“I had a good night,” Cain said. “I felt like I had some pretty good chances going into the night…I was pretty confident with them.

“On paper Roll One Over looked the best but I felt Culture King would thrive on the conditions.”

Cain’s assessment was spot on, with Culture King scoring with ease in the opening event on the card.

Beginning quickly to lead from barrier five, the son of Art Major was never seriously challenged on his way to a four-metre win from Lenny The Legend, with Major Generaljujon four metres away third.

Owned by a predominantly South Australian-based syndicate, Culture King rated a slick 1:54.3 over 2138 metres.

“He did it quite easily,” Cain said. “Once he got to the front he had the race well in his keeping.”

Cain then led throughout with Cruz, which rated a brilliant 1:50.4 over 1660 metres to account for Colt Thirty One and Watch Pulp Fiction.

“Cruz lived up to his name and cruised it in,” Cain said. “On the home turn he felt enormous and got to the line with a bit up his sleeve.”

Roll On Over rounded out the Cross-Cain treble when he also set the pace before completing a five-metre win from Tactical Response, with Blackwhiteandblue a metre-and-a-half away third in 1:54.3 for the 1660-metre sprint.

“They tried to soften him up down the back, but he just kept finding,” Cain said. “In the home straight he felt as good as he did at the start and hit the line strongly.”