The South East trainer-driver Finnis combination of father Barry, the trainer, and son Jayson the driver, came to Globe Derby Park on the weekend and went home with three winners.
On Friday night, talented three-year-old Jumping Jolt beat the older horses, then on Saturday it was another three-year-old Oceans Predator’s turn to beat older horses and two-year-old Shania Black to make a very impressive debut.
Jumping Jolt was a virtually unbackable $1.30 favourite when resuming from a short let up in the AMC Commercial Cleaning Pace (1800m).
He justified that quote scoring a 4-1/2 metre win from Ashkii ($4.70) with Bolt Action Blood ($8.60) a head away third finishing quickly.
Starting from gate seven Finnis allowed the gelding to drop out to the tail of the field early before unleashing his quick sprint going into the back straight moving alongside the leader Ashkii before putting him away in the home straight.
“The leader put up a good fight,” Finnis said, “but my bloke was up for it and won well.
“That was his first run for nearly two months and he will be improved by the run.”
Jumping Jolt has an excellent record of nine wins and a second from just 11 starts.
The up-coming Southern Cross series for three-year-old colts and geldings in Adelaide is the goal for Jumping Jolt and also Ocean’s Predator which looked good on Saturday night.
“He’s a pretty handy back up,” Finnis said. “He’s been a bit slow maturing but he is coming along really well now.”
Unbackable at $1.10, Oceans Predator scored a 9-1/2 metre win in the PFD Foods Pace (1800m) defeating Major Rainbow ($11.90) with Blackntan ($15.70), 6-1/2 metres away third.
Coming from gate four, Oceans Predator was forced to lead the one-wide runners and after sitting back early, the driver elected to allow him to move forward midrace then dashed him away in the home straight.
“He still takes a bit of driving and is learning as he goes,” Finnis said.
“The win wasn’t as easy as it looked but he is as a nice horse.”
Finnis gave a good pointer to his thoughts of the promise of Oceans Predator.
“To sit in the death and win at Stawell running 1:59.8 is something that isn’t done all that often,” he said.
Mount Gambier club president Phil Wood was as happy as anyone when Shania Black made a winning debut in the Maughan Thiem Ford Ranger Pace (1800m).
The filly’s part-owner-breeder Peter Medhurst, agreed to sell Shania Black’s dam Jet Lane to Woods and the mare has produced a filly by Mister Feelgood.
“Peter said he had too many horses on his property and we came to an arrangement over Jet Lane as I think he is hoping Shania Black can take over from her dam to keep the family line going,” Woods said.
A $2.50 chance, Shania Black cruised to the lead from gate four and although challenged about 500 metres from home, beat off Opinionated ($1.90 fav) to score by 6-1/2 metres with Fiametta ($10.80), 17 metres away third.
Finnis said the filly would be the stable’s only two-year-old runner in the Southern Cross series.
“We had a few other two-year-olds but they just couldn’t reach the track at this stage.
“This filly can fire up a bit in front and is still learning about racing.
“I’d prefer to have her racing with a sit but tonight she went to the front untouched so there was no option but to keep the lead.
“When the runner-up came alongside down the back she really didn’t know what it was all about but once I asked her to go she responded in great style.”
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