South Australian trotter Pocketfullofcash completed his education with honours scoring a dominating victory in the Group 2 2017 UBETSouth Australian Trotters Cup (2645m) at Globe Derby Park.
Backed from $11 into $7.70, Pocketfullofcash, trained and driven by Paul Fidge, scored an eight metre win from another local Im Princess Sophie ($17.40) with Zedalite ($2.20 fav), 1-1/2 metres away third.
Bred by Port Pirie trainer-driver Waylon Hornhardt, Pocketfullofcash is owned by Wade Knight and Lee-Anne Ferguson, who must be delighted with their decision to give the gelding to Fidge to train.
When, the now seven-year-old, came into Fidge’s Two Wells stable in late 2014, the trainer recognised his potential but said the gelding was “just plain dumb.”
Pocketfullofcash justified that opinion by regularly galloping at the start, and also often during races.
Teacher Fidge never gave up on ‘Bandit’ and his work and effort was rewarded with a victory in South Australia’s best trotting race.
Pocketfullofcash showed he was learning about the art of square-gaiting with a wonderful 2015-2016 season culminating in being named the state’s trotter of the year.
Included in the wins were the Victor Harbor Trotters Cup, Hambeltonian and Gramel Cup but perhaps in defeat the gelding showed he was not far away from a major win running a courageous second to Our Twentyten in the Seelite Trotters Cup in Mildura.
Resuming from a spell in early December, Pocketfullofcash had five runs before Saturday night’s Cup run and had only one third prompting many to say the gelding had not come up.
Fidge never lost the faith.
