Geoff Webster and Franco Ledger with the Shepparton Gold Cup.
Franco Ledger and Geoff Webster tonight timed their run in the Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup to perfection.
The Bannockburn trainer/driver piloted the former Kiwi pacer to a 2.4-metre win in the Group 2 race and, in doing so, it appears Webster and Franco Ledger's TAB.com.au Summer of Glory timing has also been perfect.
Franco Ledger looks to have a serious role to play in the upcoming Victoria and Hunter Cups on the strength of tonight's performance.
The seven-year-old son of Franco Seelster sprouted wings in the straight after a soft run mid-race, overhauling hot favourite Philadelphia Man inside the final 50m for victory in a mile rate of 1:58.9 for the 2690m stand-start race.
Franco Ledger was driven cold from the pole draw, following stablemate Flaming Flutter in the run, at first three-back the pegs and then four-back when Philadelphia Man ran to the lead.
Lennytheshark initially had the top for Chris Alford but Lang took the Emma Stewart trained odds-on favourite to the lead at the mile, giving the talented David Aiken trained five-year-old cover.
The final lap saw Lang and Philadelphia Man seemingly in control with Lennytheshark stalking his main adversary every step of the journey.
When Lang allowed Philadelphia Man more rein late, Lennytheshark was put under pressure.
The latter responded well and never shirked the task, but Franco Ledger ascended late and bloused the two popular elects for an impressive win.
The last quarter of the final mile was clocked in 27.6secs, which followed a 27.5secs split (55.1secs last half), Franco Ledger’s finishing burst thrusting him into calculations for the looming Victoria and Hunter Cups over the next two Saturday nights at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Philadelphia Man won’t lose any admirers despite his winning streak coming to an end, while Lennytheshark went enormous first-up from a spell.
Flaming Flutter has been racing in ultra-consistent form and ran fourth, another big run. Flaming Flutter is also trained by Geoff Webster.
Smudge Bromac ran fifth for Nathan Jack and Aiken, while Bit Of A Legend made up late ground to finish sixth.
For A Reason will be better for the run, finishing seventh from his 30m backmark, while mare Steam Washed gave plenty of cheek in the run before wilting late to run eighth.
Jaccka Clive was ninth, Tasmanian Star Chamber 10th after working in the run, Wartime Sweetheart 11th and Bitobliss last.