IF YOU were caught by surprise during the second of last night's Australian Pacing Gold Sovereign heats in Kilmore, you can't say you weren't warned.
Scoring with ease, South Australian raider Jawsoflincoln caused a minor upset with his victory.
For trainer Greg Schoelfield, and those who followed the three-year-old's form closely, the win was anything but a shock.
Triumphant in the SA Derby earlier in the year, Jawsoflincoln defeated a free-for-all field at Globe Derby four days earlier in what his first start from a three-month spell.
The beaten brigade included SA Cup winner, Wrangler.
National Trotguide even published an article of Jawsoflincoln's win with the headline "Brilliant return serves as ominous warning"!
"I had no doubt he was ready to win last night," Scholefield said. "He went terrific at Globe Derby and the run did him the world of good.
"He'd been jumping out of his skin for the past few days and just felt like a monster."
Driven by James Herbertson, Jawsoflincoln enjoyed the run of the race behind the leader, Brutally Handsome, before scoring by three-and-a-half metres from the pacemaker.
Khafaji was seven-and-a-half metres away third.
Taking his record to nine wins and four placings from 17 starts, the colt rated 1:56.8 over 1690 metres - three seconds slower than Beach Villa in the opening heat.
"I know he got a nice economical run, but he still had to make the most of it and in the end he did it with ease," Scholefield said.
To be given a "couple of easy days" the son of Art Major will cross the border again for the Final on August 20.
"He's had two runs in four days, plus the long travel, so he will have a couple of easy days now," Scholefield said.
"Then I'll wind him up the best I can for the Final.
"The Final isn't going to be an easy task and we'll be hoping for the right draw and run on the night."
Photo: Walter Bulyga
