McLEAN REJOINS TRAINING RANKS

One of Victorian harness racing’s leading lights of the 1980s, John McLean, makes a return to training ranks at Maryborough on Wednesday.

The Trainman will be McLean’s first starter in 18 years.

McLean was best known for his association with top class pacer Riverlea Jack – one of the best of his day in the mid to late 1980s.

Riverlea Jack won the 1988 Kilmore and Cranbourne Cups, and 1989 Queensland Winter Cup in a career spanning 92 starts producing 41 wins and $470,000 in stakes.

His other big victories were the Victoria Sires Stake 3yo final and Len Smith 4yo/5yo Championship in NSW.

He contested the 1990 Inter Dominion at Globe Derby Park in his last campaign and reaching the final the previous year.

Riverlea Jack also went on to leave his mark as sire, producing 65 winners.

McLean, now 68, also prepared the likes of Bronski Beat, Voight and Larrakeyah Lady, which went to be a great broodmare as the dam of AG Hunter Cup winner Safe And Sound and a foundation mare for many more winners.

While he also did some driving, McLean primarily used the likes Gavin Lang and Brian Gath to steer his horses.

Industry statistics show that McLean has trained 284 winners and had has last starter in February, 2003.

Baildon is recorded as his latest winner at Tweed Heads in 1992.

1987-88 and 1988-89 were his biggest seasons when he trained 68 and 72 wins respectively

The Trainman has had six starts and lines up in the third race at Maryborough.

Damian Wilson, who previously trained the four-year-old, takes the drive.