By Adam Hamilton
PLANS have changed again for defending Inter Dominion champion Lennytheshark.
Trainer David Aiken revealed Lennytheshark would now tackle Saturday night’s $50,000 Group 2 Smoken Up Sprint at Melton instead of the Markovina free-for-all 24 hours earlier at Bendigo.
Aiken broke the news while accepting the Victorian and Australian Harness Horse of the Year awards for Lennytheshark at last night’s (Sunday) Gordon Rothacker Medal night in Melbourne.
“We’ve decided to run Lenny on the Saturday night and Hectorjayjay will go to Bendigo,” he said.
Initially, Aiken was going to run both Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay at Bendigo given the plane taking the horses to Perth leaves on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see which way Emma Stewart goes for a final lead-up race with her three Perth-bound stars: Restrepo, Guaranteed and Yankee Rockstar.
David Aiken took the reins himself to sharpen-up Lennytheshark in a Shepparton trial last Thursday.
Aiken settled last, swept around the field at the bell to take the lead and let Lenny win as he liked in a 1min57.4sec mile rate for 2190m, closing in 55.7sec.
Lennytheshark had three lead-up runs before last year’s successful Perth raid and the Smoken Up will be third lead-up run this time.
“David always planned to replicate what we did last year in the lead-up,” part-owner Martin Riseley said. “This should top him off nicely,. We can’t wait to get back to Perth.
“It looks a stronger series than last year, especially if the Kiwis come across. It’s great to be part of it.”
It’s amazing time for Riseley and his family, who also part-own NZ Cup favourite Lazarus.
GREG Bond has another sneaky Perth Inter Dominion contender.
Bond and wife Skye have former Kiwi pacers Our Jimmy Johnstone and Simply Susational ticking along nicely.
Simply Susational scored the most important win of his career when he stormed home late to snatch victory in a strong free-for-all at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
It denied Clinton Hall what would have been one of the best winning drives you would ever see on Run Oneover.
Outsider Change Stride led early with in-form mare Libertybelle Midfrew on his outside, but Hall unleashed a blistering early move to take the lead and , despite the frantic tempo, looked home on the final bend.
But driver Ryan Warwick lifted Simply Susational in the last 50m to win a neck in a flying 1min53.8sec mile rate for 2130m. It was just 0.9sec outside Beaudiene Boaz’s track record.
Run Oneover’s effort was fantastic and he has talent and versatility to make his presence felt when the Inter Dominion starts on November 25.
Libertybelle Midfrew’s golden form streak came to an abrupt halt when she stopped sharply at the 500m and finished a distant last.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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