Cranbourne strikes gold in Shepp

By Michael Howard (HRV)

A new TAB Summer of Glory contender has emerged as the locals etched their names on the Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup, one for the first time and another for the fourth.

Avenel trainer David Aiken, who won Cups in 2012 (Jaccka Clive), 2017 (Hectorjayjay) and 2018 (Im The Boss), enjoyed another memorable night at his home track, with new arrival Cranbourne showing pace at both ends to claim the $75,000 Group 2.

The victory was a first local Cup for driver Nathan Jack, who told TrotsVision he was happy to tick it off the bucket list, especially with one of Aiken’s horses.

“Aik was one of the first ones to put me on in town every week,” Jack said. “Had a little horse called Jayteeare and I used to drive him every week, so it’s a big thrill to win a race like this for Aik.”

And there may be more ticks to come for the team, with Cranbourne impressing and showing he’ll be a danger throughout the summer, having held off the late threat from fancied I Cast No Shadow.

“He beat an Inter Dominion winner, so he’s got to be one of the main chances,” Jack said.

While the team will pause to consider his path ahead of this Saturday’s PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup and the February 4 Del-Re A. G. National Hunter Cup, they have much fuel for thought after initially entering Saturday night with more questions than answers.

Cranbourne only joined Aiken’s camp in December, having won 12 of his 44 New Zealand starts before being snapped up by US owner Steve Finkelstein.

The six-year-old will likely contest Victoria and New South Wales’ Grand Circuit features before Aiken crosses the Pacific with him for a working holiday in the US.

It looks set to be a profitable venture going on the son of Lincoln Royal’s Victorian debut, with Cranbourne launching from gate four to cross I Cast No Shadow, while Art Tutor and Max Delight fell in behind on the pegline.

There was little pressure from the running line, which Sicario led with little enthusiasm until Interest Free advanced with Majestic Cruiser on his tail.

The 83.7-second lead time was almost five seconds slower than that set by Spirit Of St Louis when he broke the track record in winning last year’s Cup, and the 30.9 and 30.6 first and second quarters ensured it would be a quick dash home.

“He was quite lazy and I just kissed him up a bit at the half and he got racing the one outside him (Majestic Cruiser) and then he got kicking the wheels a couple of times,” Jack said, as Cranbourne set down a 27.9-seond third quarter.

“I would have liked to go a fraction slower myself, but I could feel the horse (I Cast No Shadow) chewing the paint off my helmet turning for home, so I knew that I had to find more once I straightened.”

He did, driving off the final bend to grab an extra length as Majestic Cruiser’s challenge had peaked, with Cam Hart steering I Cast No Shadow to the leader’s outside and griding down the gap but ultimately falling a half-neck shy of another Jason Grimson-trained triumph.

The focus now turns to the Group 1 $150,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup this Saturday, Night 1 of the TAB Summer of Glory, the peak of Victorian harness racing.