15 January 2018 | Paul Courts
MORE than a decade after his retirement, outstanding pacer Shakamaker has added another Group One ‘win’ to his tally.
As part of the weekend’s South Australia Cup festivities at Globe Derby, Harness Racing SA conducting a phantom call of a Legends SA Cup, which assembled an outstanding field of previous winners to determine which is the greatest in the feature’s 79-year history.
With victories in Inter Dominions, Hunter Cups, Miracle Miles, Derbys, records upon records, the 14 runners have won and done it all.
On number of Cup wins, the Legends SA Cup appeared to be a match between Gammalite and Smoken Up, which won the feature an amazing four times.
Then there was Bandbox, the first dual Cup winner, and Minor Derby the first pacer to successfully defend his Cup title.
But by the end of the gruelling 2645-metre journey, it was Shakamaker which finished strongly along the home straight to score from Smoken Up and Minuteman in Dennis Browne’s sensational ‘phantom call’.
Trackside to enjoy the call, Shakamaker’s former trainer John Justice was thrilled to hear the son of Bookmaker add to his 2002 SA Cup win.
“Each year the South Australia Cup brings back memories of one of Shakamaker’s great wins,” Justice said.
“To have him win a legends race, even in theory, is super as so many champions have won the Cup throughout the years.
“What makes this one even sweeter is I beat Lance.”
Lance is John’s brother, who prepared Smoken Up throughout his illustrious career.
Justice also praised HRSA for their vision in producing the fantasy clash.
“What a great idea from the board,” Justice said. “These kind of races are conjecture, but they also create interest and plenty of thought as to how would it be if these champions were to meet in a race.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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