Pocket Boy returned to winning form Saturday night.
The Shepparton meeting on Saturday May 11 was huge for the Bolinda/ Monegeetta area, with Lisa and David Miles almost pulling off the quaddie only to be stopped by neighbour Paul Males.
The Miles team had snared the first three legs with Jewel Castle, Pocket Boy and Nats Survival, before being pipped aboard Sparks Ignite by Tsonga in the Shepparton Trotters Cup.
Art Major/Duel Castle filly Jewel Castle was a tough victor of the Hunter Rural Supplies Pace for C1 class over 1690 metres after racing uncovered for the majority of the trip.
Taking care of the pacemaker No No No No No prior to the home turn, Jewel Castle fought on courageously to score by a neck over Riviera Kiss which followed her throughout, with Modern Lebron using the sprint lane for third. The mile rate 1-57.2.
Ever reliable nine-year-old In The Pocket/Timely Boyden gelding Pocket Boy coming off a second to Shanghai Knight in a Globe Derby Claimer, was also tough when successful in the Neatline Homes Pacers Handicap for C5 or better class (D-H) over 2190 metres.
Beginning brilliantly from 10 metres to lob one/one trailing another district runner Fiery Count, Lisa elected to leave the prime spot and park outside the leader Flash Of Freedom.
In a blanket finish, Pocket Boy prevailed by a head in a rate of 2-01.3 from Tere T along the sprint lane after following the leader, with Fiery Count a head away in third place just in advance of Flash Of Freedom, then survive a protest which was quickly thrown out.
Pocket Boy raced in partnership by Michael Pridmore, Bill Caven, David Miles and South Australian Simon Forrest has recorded 12 wins from 76 race appearances.
Michael also figures as the part owner of last week’s APG winner Mindarie Priddy.
Four-year-old Live Or Die/Forest Charm mare Nats Survival was impressive in taking the Quest Shepparton Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2190 metres in a rate of 2-00.2.
Trapped outside the leader Scottish Glamour from gate four, Nats Survival gained cover when the favourite Our Warwick Lad was sent forward mid-race by Nathan Jack to park in the open.
Poised to pounce on straightening, Nats Survival did exactly that to score by 5.8 metres over the favourite, with Dynamite Dude third after trailing the leader.
Sierra Kosmos/Panbrake six-year-old gelding Tsonga having his second start since August last year was a strong winner of the $10,000 Trotters Cup for T5 or better class (D-H) over 2690 metres for the Bolinda training partnership of Paul and Kari Males.
Driven by Shepparton based David Moran, Tsonga which has competed with dignity each season began swiftly to possie one/one following Gentlemans Honour, with Oi You beginning fast to lead from barrier four.
Easing three wide racing for the bell to sit outside Xanderxav which had taken over mid-race, Tsonga outstayed his rivals to defeat a game Sparks Ignite (three wide solo last lap from mid-field) by a neck in 2-04.7, with the favourite Cold Sister third after following home both the runner up and Makemcry Maori in the three wide line.
Another local area winning trainer on Saturday was Bolinda’s Brent Lilley who chalked up a double in Adelaide.
Six-year-old Armbro Invasion/Second Guess gelding Abbotshall taking the Globe Derby Poultry, Grain and Stockfeeds Trotters Dash for C2 or better class over 1800 metres in advance of My Independence Day and Siegfried in a rate of 2-01.8 and four-year-old Zooma/Remberance Day gelding Zedalite the Keith Preston Legends Final for T0 to T2 class over 2230 metres from Cancutthemustard and Le Chabanais in 2-06.3. Both winners were handled by “Rocket” Rod Petroff.
Chris Alford’s Yankee Spider/Rockolina gelding Miracle brought up a hat-trick of wins by taking The Lombo for Two Year Old Trotters over 1690 metres, proving too classy for Im Stately and Claudys Princess on debut in 2-01.2.
Whittlesea trainer/driver Mark Peace landed the GV Equine Hospital 3-Y-0 Pace over 1690 metres with Art Major/Runaway Holme filly Passionate Embrace in a rate of 1-58.9, leading throughout from gate two in defeating Really Under Fire off a three wide trail from last in the final circuit and Frosty Star which followed the winner.
Avenel trainer David Aiken’s brilliant Yankee Spider/Lunar Landing filly Spidergirl blitzed her rivals in the Great Success Shepparton Oaks Trial over 2190 metres, winning by a conservative 19.3 metres over Maori Time and Dizzyinterest in 1-59.7.
Kilmore’s Rita Burnett was in the winners stall when four-year-old Life Sign/Mojaji gelding Wirra Storm broke his maiden status at start number 29 by greeting the judge in the Schweppes Trotters Mobile for non winners over 1690 metres in a rate of 2-06.8, defeating Tobinjarra and Kains Boy.
