Sport
Cranbourne dazzles to deliver Shepparton reinsman and Avenel trainer Shepparton Gold Cup success
Another chapter in Avenel trainer David Aiken’s love affair with the Shepparton Gold Cup in recent years was written on Saturday night when new stable addition Cranbourne made a winning Australian debut in the time-honoured race.
Aiken claimed the cup in 2018 with Im The Boss Man and in 2017 with Hectorjayjay after winning his first cup in 2012 with Jaccka Clive.
Inter Dominion winner Lennytheshark also was placed for Aiken in the 2018 and 2015 cups.
But in a home town result in the cup, star Shepparton reinsman Nathan Jack drove Cranbourne to victory in the $75,000 Group Two feature.
Jack worked Cranbourne to the front from barrier four, allowing the favourite I Cast No Shadow to stalk him in the run over the 2690m marathon.
But when the chips were down and I Cast No Shadow got into clear running straightening up in preference to taking the sprint lane he was unable to run down Cranbourne who scored by a half-neck with Interest Free filling the minor placing nearly 15m astern.
Jack spoke to Harness Racing Victoria following his first success in the Shepparton Gold Cup.
“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.
“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.”
The win was extra special for Jack.
Not only was he driving for a trainer who backed him in all those years ago, but it was also his maiden success in the Shepparton Gold Cup.
“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.”
Aiken’s other runner in the race, Max Delight, who was cluttered up on the pegs four back for most of the race finished fourth.
The only Shepparton-trained runner in the race Serg Blanco finished eighth.
Cranbourne rated 1:59.5 for the trip, but the win was reflected in the final sectionals with a sizzling 54.5 last and a scorching 26.6 last quarter which gave his rivals little chance of running him down over the testing journey.
A six-year-old son of Lincoln Royal, Cranbourne was an 11 times winner in New Zealand and had held his own in some elite company over there and some punters took the $6 opening quote about his chances.
He firmed in to start the $3.60 second favourite with I Cast No Shadow starting the $1.90 favourite.
Cranbourne is on his way to race in America, but will contest some Australian feature races under Aiken’s guidance before he makes the trip to race in the American summer season.